Amateur Radio

First issued 1956

pairs 1956-1974

Plate serial is owners FCC ID.
South Carolina is in Call Area 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia). I believe if one relocates to SC from another region, they may keep their call sign.
FCC issued original prefix of K after WWII (K4AAA to K4ZZZ), then W prefix (W4AAA to W4ZZZ), then Wx (WA4xxx ...)
In 1976, Federal Communications Commission revised issuance categories http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=call_signs_1&id=amateur
1956 (pair)
state name and year embossed; serial number screenprinted
black/yellow

1957 (pair)
state name and year embossed; serial number screenprinted
white/blue

1958 (pair)
state name and year embossed; serial number screenprinted
blue/white

1959 (pair)

white/blue

1960 (pair)

blue/white

1961 (pair)

red/white

1962 (pair)

white/red

1963 (pair)

white/green

1964 (pair)

white/black

1965 (pair)

black/white

1966 (pair)

white/blue

1967 (pair)

blue/white

1968 (pair)

white/black

1969 (pair)

white/blue

1970 (pair)

white/green

1971 (pair)

white/brown

1972 (pair)

white/black

1973 (pair)

white/blue

1974 (pair)

white/green

1975 (single)

white/maroon

1976-1978
passenger stickers
Bicentennial base

1979

black/white

1980

blue/white

1981

red/white

1982
marked NOV. 30th
green/white

1983
"EXP. NOV. 30th 83" bottom
black/white

1984
"EXP. NOV. 30 84" top
white/blue

1985
"EXP. NOV. 30 85"
red/white

1986
"EXP. 11/30" bottom corners
green/white

1987
"EXP. 11/30" bottom corners
black/white

1988
"EXP. RADIO AMATEUR 11/30" bottom
blue/white

1989-1990
stickered (1989 non-pass; 1990 passenger)
red/white

1991-2009
stickered (1991 non-pass sticker; 1992+ passenger stickers)
black/white

2010-2015
same design as 1991-2009, but flat. Most call letters that included the number 0 did not use the slash.
 prior embossed variation valid with renewal
black/white

2015-current
Redesign effective 5/1/2015
Full replacement complete by 4/30/2017

note: SCDMV website shows the following image, but no plates with the radio symbol have been physically spotted: