1974 Bicentennial Baseplate
Just the Facts... |
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Construction |
6" x 12", aluminum covered with reflective white sheeting. Issued in pairs. |
Design |
Two red graphic horizontal stripes and an embossed image of the U.S. Capitol dome. |
Period of issuance |
Four years: April 1, 1974, through March 31, 1978. |
Period of use |
Twelve years and six months: April 1, 1974, through September 30, 1986. |
Non-passenger plates |
Examples of a number of types issued on the 1974 baseplate are pictured below. |
Other facts |
A registration year of April 1 through March 31 was used during the period that this base was issued. Plates that continued to be revalidated after the 1978 base was introduced were switched to the staggered system in early 1984. |
There are two varieties of this base, and both have "3-31" embossed in the lower left corner, indicating the annual March 31 expiration date, and a debossed sticker box in the lower right corner. The first style has "75" debossed in the sticker box. Plates of this style, the first to be issued, are numbered 100-000 through at least 327-761. The second style does not have the "75" year designation, and these are numbered from at least 343-951 through 500-000. The cutoff point between the dated and undated styles is believed to be plates numbered 340-000 and 340-001.
Plates of this base were assigned sequentially from number 100-000 through 500-000, and during the first registration year (April 1974 through March 1975) they were used without a sticker. Reflective stickers listed below were issued to validate 1974 baseplates, and plate collectors are reminded that in most cases the final three digits in the sticker serial number should match the final three digits on the plate, as described at the Validation Stickers page.
Year |
Marked |
Colors |
Period of Use |
1975 |
76 |
blue on white |
4/1/75-3/31/76 |
1976 |
77 |
red on white |
4/1/76-3/31/77 |
1977 |
78 |
blue on white |
4/1/77-3/31/78 |
Later stickers (marked 79 through as late as SEP 86), as listed and discussed on the 1978 baseplate page, were used to validate 1974 baseplates through September 30, 1986, while 1978 baseplates were being issued for new registrations.
About the Bicentennial Design
With its simple red horizontal stripes, the 1974 D.C.base is believed to be the second U.S. graphic general-issue auto plate. (The 1974 South Dakota plate was issued for use beginning in January of the year, whereas the D.C. plate made its debut on April 1.) The design, with a U.S. Bicentennial theme slogan and simple embossed motif in the center, was likely issued in response to Pennsylvania's similarly composed 1971 base. Of course, D.C. bested Pennsylvania by using a red, white, and blue color scheme, plus the commemorative 1776-1976 year designations.
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The graphic plate design introdcued in the mid-1970s was reproduced on envelopes in which renewal registration certificates and corresponding plate stickers were mailed. Click on the image for a view of the entire envelope. |
1974 Baseplate Types
Only plate types of which we have found examples are pictured. Images of additional types will be added to the array below as they become available.
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Passenger - General-Issue |
Pass. - Reserved Number |
Pass. - Personalized |
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Bus |
Commercial (Truck) |
Dealer |
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Disabled American Veteran |
Diplomatic |
Diplomatic Staff |
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D.C. Government |
Hire |
Medical Doctor |
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Motorcycle |
Trailer |
Sample |
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This page last updated on January 16, 2010 |
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