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

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1956 (pair)
state name and year embossed; serial number screenprinted
black/yellow

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

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

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1959 (pair)

white/blue

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1960 (pair)

blue/white

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1961 (pair)

red/white

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1962 (pair)

white/red

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1963 (pair)

white/green

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1964 (pair)

white/black

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1965 (pair)

black/white

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1966 (pair)

white/blue

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1967 (pair)

blue/white

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1968 (pair)

white/black

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1969 (pair)

white/blue

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1970 (pair)

white/green

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1971 (pair)

white/brown

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1972 (pair)

white/black

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1973 (pair)

white/blue

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1974 (pair)

white/green

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1975 (single)

white/maroon

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1976-1978
passenger stickers
Bicentennial base

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1979

black/white

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1980

blue/white

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1981

red/white

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1982
marked NOV. 30th
green/white

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2010-2015