Samples

Italy

I don't know if and how it's possible to get a sample plate in Italy, but for sure there are some of them around because it's always essential to make some tests before starting mass-producing and it's likely that these samples are then given as a gift to some managers. Since it's illegal to keep Italian license plates, it would be nice if it was possible to have samples. Anyway I'm still trying to find more about this subject and I hope to update this page soon.

You can see below three pictures of Italian sample plates of the kind issued between 1985 and 1994 (see the history of plates for cars). You can see the letters "PGS A1" (Provveditoriato Generale dello Stato) on some of them and this confirms that they are original. The fourth plate is a sample of the Italian Red Cross of the kind used until 1982(?) and the last is a sample plate of the Esercito Italiano used between 1968 and 1979.
The fifth picture is taken from the web site of FrancoPlaque, while I must thank Giancarlo Raposo very much for the first four interesting pictures that convinced me to create this web page!

Sample plate: MI 000000
Sample plate: TO 000000		 Sample plate: Roma 000000
Sample plate: CRI 0000 Sample plate: EI 000000

San Marino

Sample plate of San Marino: 99999

Sample plates are made also in San Marino, but in this case they are produced and sold, exactly like in many States of the the US. I haven't got any of these sample plates at home, but I know how you can request one for your own collection. Each plate costs 30.000 liras (about 15 US dollars) plus 15.000 liras for shipping (at least this is the price to Italy) and you can get one writing to the following address:

Ufficio Registro Automezzi
Via delle Carrare, 42
47031 Murata
Repubblica di San Marino
tel: +39 - 0549 887100
fax: +39 - 0549 887115

I need to thank Antonio Carretta for the picture of this sample plate.


Order of Malta

Sample plate: SMOM 000 Though sample plates of the Order of Malta don't exist officially, in the picture on the right you can see one of them. I'm very sure about its authenticity and the proof is a piece of paper of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta that was with the plate: click here to see it!

I want to thank Jim Fox so much for this wonderful picture he sent me.




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