Roxy Jacenko is cashing in on two prized possessions she bought as an investment 20 years ago – and they can now fetch more than $200,000 combined.
The Sydney PR queen has auctioned her coveted NSW heritage number plates, 1903 and 1908, through Collecting Cars, describing the sale as ‘the end of an era’.
Roxy, who now lives in Singapore, revealed that she bought the records individually about 20 years ago for around $40,000 each, mainly because she believed they would gain in value.
“I wanted to start collecting heritage plates as an investment, given the scarcity around them and the numbers they were being raised,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
The bet seems to be paying off.
The 1908 sign had already attracted a bid of $80,500 as the auction entered its final days, with Roxy expecting both signs to ultimately sell for more than $100,000 each.
Roxy Jacenko has auctioned her coveted NSW heritage number plates, 1903 and 1908, through Collecting Cars, describing the sale as ‘quite the end of an era’
Roxy, who now lives in Singapore, revealed that she bought the records (pictured) individually about 20 years ago for around $40,000 each, mainly because she believed they would gain in value.
Over the years, the distinctive license plates have adorned a range of luxury vehicles, including a Range Rover, Aston Martin, Porsche, McLaren, Bentley and a Ferrari – the most expensive car to wear one of the plates.
Roxy said the cars themselves ranged in value from about $300,000 for a Range Rover to $650,000 for a Ferrari or Bentley.
“I’ve been collecting Hermès bags for years and the NSW Heritage plates meet the same standards: true scarcity, a passionate buyer base and no holding fees beyond registration fees,” she said.
‘Unlike a handbag, a four-digit license plate cannot be counterfeited, damaged or withdrawn from the market. It’s the rarest thing you can own that also sits on the front of your car.”
She described a NSW heritage plate as “a blue chip that just happens to be on the front of your car.”
“Supply is determined by the government, demand continues to rise, and unlike a watch or a handbag, it is truly unique,” she said.
‘It’s a status symbol that does its own marketing; everyone who knows, knows.”
The auctions will close in a few days.
“I’ve been collecting Hermès bags for years and NSW heritage plates meet the same standards: true scarcity, a passionate buyer base and no holding fees beyond registration fees,” she said
She described a NSW heritage plate as ‘a blue chip that just happens to be on the front of your car’
Roxy had previously tried to sell the boards back via Instagram in January 2024, shortly after moving to Singapore.
“I’m selling my real NSW heritage plates now that I don’t have any cars in NSW. 4 characters long, white on black background. Sold as a set. Serious OFFERS only,” she wrote in the caption at the time.
The first 285,000 plates issued in each Australian state are hot commodities, with buyers paying millions for lower numbers.
In general, the lower the number, the higher the price it will fetch at auction.
The last single-digit plate to be auctioned in New South Wales, No. 4, sold for $2.45 million in 2017.
