Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1959

Each of the 49 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for the year 1959.

Passenger baseplates ImageRegionDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesAlabamaEmbossed blue lettering, heart logo and rims on white base."HEART OF DIXIE" centered embossed at topCoded by county of issuance:0-12-34500-12-345AlaskaEmbossed blue numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial/state flag at left; "ALASKA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top; "58" embossed in top right cornerNone123451 to approximately 740001958 base plates revalidated for 1959 with white tabs.American SamoaArizonaEmbossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "ARIZONA 59" embossed in white block letters centered at top."GRAND CANYON STATE"ABC-123AAA-001 to approximately BDY-999ArkansasEmbossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 59" embossed in black block letters centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY"1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)CaliforniaEmbossed black lettering on yellow base; "CALIFORNIA" embossed at top left with "56" incused into black embossed box at top right.NoneAAA 123unknown1956 base plates revalidated for 1959 with black-on-white stickers.Canal ZoneEmbossed yellow lettering on black base; embossed and centered "1959 at top and "Canal Zone at bottomNone12345unknownSample plate shownColoradoEmbossed white lettering on green base"Colorful"1-123410-1234County-coded registrationConnecticutEmbossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "CONNECTICUT" embossed in white block letters at bottom, offset to left None12345AB123AB1234123-456AB-1234Varied by formatDelawareReflective gold numbers riveted on dark blue, Delaware at top, insert spaces bottom. Insert format continued as original.None1234564 to approximately 225000First plate in federally mandated 6 x 12 in size. 1958 base renewed with metal tabs for 1959.District of ColumbiaunknownFloridaEmbossed blue lettering and rims on white base; nickname at top with date and state name at bottom."SUNSHINE STATE" embossed at top between "19" and "59"1-23456712-1234561A-2345612A-34567unknownCounty coded (1 or 12) and coded by vehicle weight and type (A).GeorgiaEmbossed white lettering and rims on black plate, with state name embossed at top center and nickname at bottom between halves of date."PEACH STATE"1-A-234512-A-3456Coded by county (1 or 12) and class (A)GuamHawaiiEmbossed white lettering and rims on red base. State name at bottom with slogan at top. Undated."ALOHA" embossed at top.1A-2341957 base plate in use continuously through 1960 without updated registration on plate.IdahoNoneIllinoisWhite lettering embossed on blue base; "ILL 33" at bottom."LAND OF LINCOLN" embossed at top123 4561 234 5671 to approximately 1-277-000IndianaRoyal blue lettering embossed on yellow base; "IND - 59" embossed at top. LINCOLN YEAR incused in embossed blue box at bottom.AB 1234County-codedIowaEmbossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "IOWA" embossed in black block letters centered at top; "59" embossed in top right corner."none"1 12345 10 12345County-coded (1 or 10).KansasEmbossed blue numbers on yellow plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 59" embossed in blue block letters centered at top."THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in blue block letters at bottom, offset to right.A/B-12345County-coded (A/B)KentuckyEmbossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "59" in top right corner.None123-456LouisianaEmbossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; embossed white pelican in the center; "19 LOUISIANA 59" embossed in wide white block letters at top."SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow white block letters at bottom123 4561 001 to approximately 910 000MaineMarylandEmbossed blue numbers and rims on white plate with border line.NoneMassachusettsEmbossed white numbers and rims on red base. White box at top with incused "59 MASS" in red.Michigan"WATER WONDERLAND" embossed centered at the bottom.1-234-567Issued in front and rear pairs.MinnesotaEmbossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "58" in bottom right corner."10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at top.1A 1234MA1234First number corresponds to congressional district of issue. "M" plates were mail-order issues. 1958 base plates revalidated for 1959 with green tabs.MississippiWhite with embossed green lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.None123-456unknownMissouriNoneMontanaEmbossed black numbers on unpainted aluminum plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA" embossed in wide black block letters centered below numbers; embossed "59" to right of state name.None1·1234510·1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10).NebraskaBlack embossed lettering and rims on golden yellow base.THE BEEF STATE embossed at bottom center12-3456County-codedNevadaEmbossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "NEVADA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top; "EXP" embossed in top left corner and "JUN 60" in top right corner.NoneA12345AB1234County-codedNew HampshireWhite base with embossed green lettering and border. None1-234County-codedNew JerseyBlack lettering embossed on straw-colored base. NoneABC 123New MexicoRed embossed lettering and sunburst design on yellow background. "NEW MEXICO" embossed at bottom and sunburst with "33" inside embossed at left.None12-3456County-codedNew YorkEmbossed black lettering on gold base; "NY 33" embossed at bottom center."none"A-12-341A23-45County-coded.North CarolinaBlue base with embossed white lettering "NORTH CAROLINA - 33" at bottom. None123-456North DakotaWhite lettering and border embossed on green base. "ND" embossed at left and "33" embossed at right.None123-4561 to approximately 149-000Northern Mariana IslandsOhioEmbossed red lettering and rims on white plate; "1959 OHIO" embossed at bottom.NoneA·12345AB·123412345·A1234·ABA·1234·BIssued in blocks by countyOklahomaEmbossed yellow numbers on black plate; "OKLAHOMA 1933" embossed at bottom.None1-12345610-12345County-codedOregonNone123-456PennsylvaniaEmbossed yellow lettering and state-shaped border on blue base. "PA 58" embossed at top.NoneABC 123Puerto RicoRhode IslandEmbossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 59" embossed in white block letters above numbers.NoneAA1 to WW999Letters I, Q and U not used, and X, Y and Z used only on replacement plates.South CarolinaEmbossed white numbers on blue plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 59" embossed in white block letters at top.NoneA-123-456Coded by weight class (A)South DakotaBlack lettering and border on white base with stamped Mount Rushmore graphic at top.None1-12341-A12312-123412-A123Coded by county (1 or 10 prefix). 1957 base plates revalidated for 1959 with red tabs.TennesseeEmbossed yellow numbers on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 54" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom.None1-1234510-12341D-1234510D-1234(D) in registration indicates vehicles weighing over 3,500 lbs.TexasEmbossed black lettering on white base. "TEXAS 59" embossed at top.NoneAB-1234Could be revalidated for subsequent years using metal tabs.UtahVermontEmbossed dark green numbers on white plate; "54 VERMONT" embossed in dark green block letters centered at bottom.None12345A1234VirginiaEmbossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1954" embossed in white block letters at top.None123-4561 to approximately 999-999WashingtonEmbossed white numbers on green plate; "54 WASHINGTON" embossed in white block letters at bottom.None123-456 A12-345 ABCounty-coded (A or AB)West VirginiaEmbossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-54" embossed in yellow block letters at bottom.None123-456WisconsinEmbossed dark green numbers on white plate; "WIS" embossed in dark green block letters at top, offset to left; month of expiration and "59" embossed in top right corner."AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom.A12-345AA-1234First letter corresponds to month of expiration.WyomingEmbossed black numbers and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "54 WYOMING" embossed in black block letters at bottom.None1-1234510-1234County-coded

Non-passenger plates Image (standard)RegionTypeDesign and sloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes

See also

Antique vehicle registration Electronic license plate Motor vehicle registration Vehicle license

References

External links