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Washington, D.C. Baseplate Type Sets

A type set, a collection of plates of one year or multi-year baseplate of various types, is one of the more interesting ways to collect and display plates. To be shown on this page are type sets of various recent D.C. baseplates, and we've begun with what we have (so far) of the 1974, 1978, and 1984 bases. If you have some of the types that are missing, please contact us!

Bicentennial Base

The 1974 base was issued for four years, from April 1974 through March 1978, but examples could have been used (if properly revalidated annually) through the mid-1980s until they were replaced in conjunction with D.C.'s last general reissuance. For more information about this base visit our 1974 Baseplate page.

1974 base passenger plate no. 310-523
1974 base reserved passenger plate no. 84
1974 base personalized plate no. V J
Passenger - General-Issue

Pass. - Reserved Number

Pass. - Personalized
     
1974 base bus plate no. B-5837
1974 base commercial plate no. C-12250
1974 base dealer plate no. D-692
Bus
Commercial (Truck)
Dealer
     
1974 base Disabled American Veteran plate no. DAV-414
1974 base diplomatic plate no. 131
1974 base Diplomatic Staff plate no. WN-1523
Disabled American Veteran
Diplomatic
Diplomatic Staff
     
1974 base D.C. Govt. plate no. 3355
1974 base hire plate no. H-8950
1974 base D.C. Medical Doctor plate no. MD-441
D.C. Government
Hire
Medical Doctor
     
1974 (exp. 3-31-75) motorcycle plate no. M-696
1974 base trailer plate no. T-386
1974 base sample plate
Motorcycle
Trailer
Sample
       

Nation's Capital Base

NATION'S CAPITAL appears on most Washington, D.C. plates issued since the mid-1950s so it's not really clear why, when plate collectors use just this slogan to describe a particular baseplate, everyone seems to understand that the '78 base is the topic of discussion. Nevertheless, that's what seems to happen. Older plates with the slogan are usually referred to by the expiration year indicated on the plate, but this undated plate is commonly referred to simply as the Nation's Capital base.

The 1978 base was issued for six and one-half years, from April 1978 through Sept. 1984, but examples could have been used for a few more years until they were replaced in conjunction with D.C.'s last general reissuance. For more information about this base visit our 1978 Baseplate page.

1978 base passenger plate no. 673-591
1978 base reserved passenger plate no. 253
1978 base bus plate no. B-16052
Passenger - General-Issue

Pass. - Reserved Number

Bus
     
1978 base commercial plate no. C-27450
1978 base clergy plate no. 406
1978 base Dealer plate no. D-3500
Commercial (Truck)
Clergy
Dealer
     
1978 base diplomatic plate no. 8899 1978 base D.C. Govt. plate no. 3403 1978 base hire plate no. H-17771
Diplomatic
D.C. Government
Hire (Taxi)
 
 
1978 base handicapped person plate no. H/P 156
1978 base motorcycle plate no. N2475
1978 base Rental plate no. R-3755
Handicapped Person
Motorcycle
Rental

Capital City Base

The 1984 (Capital City) base was issued for approximately seven years, from late 1984 through mid-1991, and is the oldest base still in use today. For more information about this base, visit our 1984 Baseplate page. Note that earlier 1984 baseplates have oblong bolt holes whereas later ones have round holes.

1984 base passenger plate no. 285-717
1984 base reserved passenger plate no. 161
1984 base personalized plate no. GRNNTL
Passenger - General-Issue

Pass. - Reserved Number

Pass. - Personalized
     
1984 base bus plate no. B-21578
1984 base commercial plate no. C-52746
1984 base clergy plate no. CL-262
Bus
Commercial (Truck)
Clergy
     
1984 base dealer plate no. D-00740
1984 base D.C. Govt. plate no. 5233
1984 base hire (taxi) plate no. H-48009
Dealer
D.C. Government
Hire (Taxi)
     
1984 base handicapped person plate no. HP6912
1979-2006 base historic motor vehicle plate no. HMV 217
1984 base livery plate no. L-1821
Handicapped Person
Historic Motor Vehicle
Livery
     
1984 base medical doctor plate no. MD-2862
1984 base motorcycle plate no. 2923M
1984 base rental car plate no. R-14367
Medical Doctor
Motorcycle
Rental
     
1984 base solid waste plate no. SW-899
1984 base transport plate no. TRP-439
1984 base sample plate
Solid Waste
Transport
Sample
 
 


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This page last updated on December 31, 2017

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