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The inextricable link between copper and the Grand Canyon State dates back more than 70 million years, even though it was not mined locally until 1854 in Ajo.
In an effort to resuscitate what ultimately became a lagging industry, the Arizona State Motor Vehicle Division authorized the production of copper license plates for automobiles beginning July 21, 1931.
Despite just 112,000 registered vehicles, more than 70,000 pounds of Cu were used in the production of plates the following year – a trend that continued until 1934.
Today, a mix of aluminum and steel is tacked to the rear of nearly 2.5 million vehicles.
– Hannah Van Sickle, The Arizona 100