One of Colorado’s 150th-anniversary license plates has set a record as the fastest-selling plate in state history.
The “Pikes Peak or Bust” plate, which won a statewide contest in March, overtook the previous fastest-seller, the apharities plate, after residents ordered 5,700 license plates in just two months, according to a news release from the Colorado Department of Revenue.
The license plate went on sale in August of this year and is based on the Historic Colorado Contest’s under-13-year-old division’s winning design by Calista Blaschke of Denver.
The plate design includes Pikes Peak, the state bird (lark bunting) and the state tree (blue spruce).
“Colorado’s 150th birthday is an exciting time to celebrate and take pride in our state. Both of the 150th-anniversary license plate designs showcase unique parts of Colorado, so I am not surprised many people chose one for their vehicles,” Gov. Jared Polis said. “Congratulations to Calista and Evan on the success of your license plate designs, and I look forward to seeing more of them on the roads!”
The other winning design that was in the over-13-year-old division, designed by Evan Griesheimer of Denver, has also done well with residents; nearly 3,000 plates were ordered through September.
Griesheimer’s plate design was inspired by the simplicity and colors of the Colorado State Flag, the Rocky Mountains, and the state’s rich mining history.
The Historic Colorado Contest launched on Sept. 19, 2022, and closed with more than 300 entries from 216 entrants. Griesheimer and Blaschke each received $1,000 in grants.
The digitally printed Retired Black Passenger plate released earlier this year has surged in popularity to become the most popular Colorado specialty license plate to date, but the unprecedented demand for the 150th-anniversary plates suggests that they could soon become the state’s new favorite choice for celebrating its storied past, according to the news release.
Coloradans interested in seeing all available license plate designs can visit DMV.Colorado.gov/License-Plates.
Residents can purchase license plates online at myDMV.Colorado.gov or a county-operated motor vehicle office. The license plates cost $8.06 per pair, in addition to local fees.
