The 1960/61 Baja California passenger plate issue may be unique in the 100-plus years of state plates: the only year that has two distinct varieties. The difference is in the state name.  The far more common variety has “BAJA CALIFORNIA”, and the far less common variety has “BAJA CALIFORNIA N.”, with the “N” for the familiar Norte designation.

Since Baja California’s first plate issues as early as 1920 and before, the state has had different name designations. The earliest undated porcelain issues used “B.C. Mexico” or “Baja Cal Mexico”, then simply “Baja Cal”. For at least one year, 1931, the territory used “DN de la BC” for Distrito Norte. Starting in 1932, “T.N.” for Territorio Norte was used through 1935, then again from1947-1953 once state issues resumed. The 1954/55 base had no designation other than state name. But for the 1956/57 base, the designation “N” returned for just one year and appears to have been dropped for the 1958/59 base.

The 1958/59 general issue is known to only have the “Baja California” name. But for 1960/61, varieties were used. The “N” issues known, there are at least two and likely more, start in the 3 series. By the 4 series, the “N” was dropped and only had “BAJA CALIFORNIA” spelled out.   

Has anyone seen any other “N” on either the 1958/59 or the 1960/61 or later issues? Does anyone have any evidence or theories to explain why the “N” appears to have reappeared this year and then disappeared well before the year ended?