GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS

Good Economic News

The Scotland auto license "S1" just sold for 400,000 British pounds ($752,000). Now the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, wants the Lord Provost to sell his plate, "S0," worth perhaps 500,000 pounds ($940,000). He says it belongs to the city and he will not sell. Some in the city think money from the plate's sale could be used to improve city services; others think it is a symbol that should remain with the city and not be sold. Plates in Dubai and Hong Kong have sold for similar prices, but valid license plates are rarely sold by individuals in the United States.

A carved rock crystal pitcher at first thought to be a cheap French claret jug just sold for $5.58 million. It was made for Egyptian rulers about a thousand years ago. The ewer, carved from a large piece of flawless rock crystal, was at first thought to be glass. Estimated at less than $350 at a small-town auction awhile ago, it sold for $383,692. It was resold for the record price at a later auction. We always wonder how expensive antiques like this hide for so many years without being noticed. It couldn't have been packed away in a little box all these years.