Inside the billionaire's choice to outbid cryptocurrency investors for the rare document, which is presently on display at the Arkansas museum owned by the Walton Family, Crystal Bridges. So, who bought the constitution?
That group, known as Constitution DAO, stated its intention to purchase the final copy of the Constitution still held in private hands during a Sotheby's auction in November, when cryptocurrency values were still skyrocketing.
Who Bought The Constitution?
Griffin, who was named among the Top 200 Collectors by ARTnews, eventually made an offer to purchase it for $43 million, which was significantly more than the initial estimate of $15 million and just enough to surpass the DAO's $40 million budget. Griffin's purchase of the Constitution caught some off guard because he is more well-known for his purchases of paintings. Griffin's collection includes works by Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, and many others, as well as the $100 million painting Boy and Dog in a Johnny pump (1982) by Jean-Michel Basquiat and the ca. 1893 painting Curtain, Jug and Fruit Bowl by Paul Cézanne.
Griffin had been outspoken about his adamant opposition to cryptocurrencies at the time of the transaction. But ever since, he's changed his mind.
Griffin's copy of the Constitution is currently on display at a democracy exhibition at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Some concerns may be allayed by the fact that the document is currently on exhibit in a museum. The Constitution DAO started collecting money to buy the Constitution with the intention of putting this important piece of American history in the hands of the public.
How Much Is A Copy Of The Constitution Worth?
The price of the most expensive document ever sold was $43.2 million for an original copy of the US Constitution. Ken Griffin, a member of the MoMA board, outbid cryptocurrency enthusiasts who raised money on Kickstarter to get the document by a significant margin. There are Currently known to be 13 original copies of the Constitution, two of which are privately owned.
How Many Original Constitution Copies Are Still In Existence?
Only 13 of the approximately 500 copies that were printed in 1787 are believed to still exist. In institutional collections, eleven are kept. A large number of delegates sent copies to their fellow delegates after the convention ended in September 1787.
Summary
I have summarized “who bought the constitution?” Yes, it is Ken Griffin, a member of the MoMA board. The announcement comes after the historic November 2021 auction sale of the Goldman Constitution, the other privately owned copy of the official first printing of the Constitution, which set a new auction record for the sale of any book, manuscript, or printed text by selling for a record-breaking $43.2 million.
