I've been collecting taxicab memorabilia for many years now (you can see the results by scrolling down almost to the bottom of that blue band to the right), including taxicab plates. But the one that always eluded me was the famous New York City medallion.
Most taxi plates go on the trunk, or are incorporated into the vehicle's state license plate, but New York cabs have theirs screwed to the hood. I wanted one of these, but despite wandering miles of flea markets, I never found one. "They're just not available," one vendor told me. "And if they do go on the market, they cost hundreds of dollars. Collectors just don't part with them."
Well, he might be right about the collectors, but the city certainly parts with them after they've expired. I found the New York City Store, which sells off the old plates, along with all kinds of other stuff associated with taxis and the city. As for the "hundreds of dollars," well, these are twenty bucks.
I bought three plates by mail order, but I simply must get to the store in person one day ...