Hi, I’m in Delaware

When the first automobiles began to roll onto the dusty roads of Delaware in the early 1900s, they brought with them a need for organization. Cars were still a novelty, but their numbers were growing quickly, and so too was the chaos. The state, ever practical, decided that a simple numbering system would do the trick—a way to track who owned what vehicle.

It was a straightforward solution: the government and state officials would get the lowest numbers, starting with 1. After all, it made sense for the people in charge to have first dibs on the most basic identifiers. From there, plates were issued sequentially, and no one thought much of it. A number was just a number.

But time, as it so often does, had other plans.

Fast-forward a few decades, and cars were no longer a novelty—they were a necessity. License plates, too, became part of everyday life, but somewhere along the line, something curious happened. Those low-digit plates, the ones given out so casually in the early days, began to take on a mystique. Plates like “5” or “21” weren’t just numbers anymore—they were symbols. A sign that you belonged to a family of old money or influence, a legacy that stretched back generations. They were quiet status markers, parked proudly on sedans and luxury cars across the state.

In Delaware, a small state where everyone seems to know everyone, these plates became the ultimate flex. Owning a single- or double-digit plate wasn’t just about driving; it was about history, prestige, and being part of an exclusive club. People started searching for them—not just figuratively, but literally. Some would scour junkyards for plates long forgotten or approach elderly neighbors with quiet inquiries: “Do you still have that old license plate? Would you ever sell it?”

And sell them they did.

A three-digit plate might fetch tens of thousands. A double-digit plate? Well, that could finance a college education. In 2008, plate number 6 sold at auction for a jaw-dropping $675,000. A six-figure price tag for something that, at its core, is just a series of numbers. Yet the demand remained—a Delaware-specific quirk that continues to this day.

But here’s where the story gets really interesting: the original designers of this numbering system had no idea they were creating an asset. To them, a license plate was nothing more than a practical tool—a way to identify cars. Logical. Functional. Necessary. It never crossed their minds that decades later, a tiny metal rectangle with a number on it would carry such enormous perceived value.

And that’s the key word here: perceived.

Not everything that looks valuable truly is. A low-digit license plate is worth six figures in Delaware because enough people agree that it is. But take that same plate across state lines, and its value evaporates. It’s the same phenomenon that fuels bubbles in markets and trendy investments. For a moment, something becomes desirable—a hot stock, a must-have house in a booming neighborhood, or even a low-digit license plate—and people rush to buy in, believing that its value will only go up.

But value is tricky. Some things are truly valuable because of what they produce—like a well-diversified investment portfolio or a rental property that generates income. Others are only valuable because enough people believe they are—and belief can change in an instant. When you’re making financial decisions, it’s worth asking yourself: Am I chasing something with real, lasting value? Or am I chasing a number on a plate that may not mean much tomorrow?

The truth is, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement. A hot tip on a stock, a flashy car you can barely afford, or a trendy investment that’s all over social media can feel like the low-digit plate of the moment. But real wealth, the kind that lasts, comes from building a foundation of assets that work for you—not from chasing after what’s shiny and new.

So let the story of Delaware’s license plates be a lesson: Just because everyone else sees something as valuable doesn’t mean it’s worth the price you’ll pay for it. Whether it’s an investment, a purchase, or a life decision, don’t let perception cloud your judgment. The smartest financial moves aren’t always the flashiest—but they’re the ones that stand the test of time.

And if you ever find yourself in Delaware, take a look around. You might spot a car with a plate that says “8” or “23” and think to yourself: That’s worth how much? But then remember: sometimes, value is just a matter of who’s willing to believe it.