A 1940s license plate with a single digit was worth six digits at auction.
Anthony Fusco paid $185,000 on Saturday for the white-on-black porcelain tag with the No. 9. The 64-year-old real-estate developer from Wilmington beat out 10 other bidders.
To Delawareans, a license plate with a low number is a status symbol. “It’s Delaware’s version of the Hope Diamond or the Mona Lisa,” said auctioneer William Emmert. “They are closely held by Delaware bluebloods. And they’re passed down from generation to generation.”
No. 1 is assigned to the governor’s official vehicle, while the lieutenant governor gets No. 2, and No. 3 goes to the secretary of state. The rest of the numbers are privately held.
