Rare U.S. Constitution Copy Sells for $11 Million

A rare 237-year-old copy of the U.S. Constitution was auctioned for over $11 million after being discovered in a filing cabinet at a former plantation in Edenton, North Carolina. The document, printed in 1787 following the Constitutional Convention, is one of approximately 100 copies made, with only eight known to survive, and is notably signed by Charles Thomson, the secretary of the Confederation Congress. Brunk Auctions managed the sale, which was delayed from September 28 due to Hurricane Helene, and completed within seven minutes with bids primarily placed over the phone. The Constitution was initially sent to Samuel Johnston, the governor of North Carolina who oversaw the state's ratification of the document, and was found during a property clearance. Included with the Constitution is a letter from George Washington encouraging state ratification despite necessary compromises. The auction highlighted the historical significance and rarity of such a document, with the final price including a buyer's premium reaching $11,070,000.