History 3 Digit license plates

I have a set of 1930 California License plates. Does anyone know why these are only 3 digits? Almost all of the ones I have seen are 6 digits.

 

At that time period in Pennsylvania, they started with number 1 and went up. Number 1 went to the governor, number 2 went to the vice governor, ect. Low number plates are generally coveted by plate collectors.

 

I was told once but do not recall the exact info enough to share.

 

It was because you were important.

 

It was because of money

 

one i got long ago.

 

WOW!!

 

Question, why is the California plate stamped on the back side of the plate ?

 

WOW! Must have belonged to the Lieutenant Vice Governor. Or the State Attorney General. Maybe even the Governor's brother in law.

Would be interesting If you could track down who the plate was originally issued to. But I doubt if the BMV is going to be of much help.

 

Dale Earnhardt fan?

 

How else is there to create raised letters?

 

I'd come to believe that that was some state official's plate.

 

But it does look odd that the bead around the edge of the plate is depressed rather than raised as the numbers and letters are. Do you have other old plates that are stamped this way?

 

Maybe it was a "Friday" or "Monday" plate at the prison machine shop....?

 

All of them no matter era. Still that way to this day.