Some Famous Collectible Stock Certificates by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC
Although the vast majority of collectible or even antique stock certificates can be purchased for under $100, there are a few stock certificates which are worth mentioning for their collectible value. Each stock certificate is unique, making them difficult to value and even more difficult to rank in terms of desirability. Still, there are a few that stand out as the collector’s holy grail of stock certificates:
The earliest known stock certificates date to the second half of the eighteenth century. Nobody knows for sure when the first stock certificate was issued, although there are several in existence from as early as 1783. These very old stock certificates were generally issued in very low quantities and it is rare for more than a handful to survive over the centuries, making them some of the most sought-after stock certificates to add to a collection.
Another category of sought-after stock certificates is those certificates with famous signatures. Prized by autograph collectors and stock certificate collectors alike, they offer tangible proof that the certificate you own was actually touched by the owner of the company. Although today’s stock certificates have pre-printed signatures of company executives, those until at least the beginning of the twentieth century usually included real signatures. Because these companies were usually owned by the rich and famous, stock certificates have been found with the signatures of Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, George P. Pullman, J.P. Morgan, Jean-Paul Getty, Henry Ford, and many others whose names remain recognizable today. These are among the rarest of all stock certificates, and can command a hefty sum when sold at auction. These certificates, if signed by a well-known business mogul, nearly always command $1,000 or more.
Another unique category of valuable stock certificates is those with a particularly interesting denomination. Though the earliest certificates had a hand-printed denomination, later certificates came pre-printed with the number of shares to expedite the process of selling stock shares. Most are marked with an even number, the most common of which is 100 shares. Those for less than 100 shares often included a counter in the margin, which would be punched to indicate the correct number of shares. Oddball denominations were printed occasionally; only a handful of 1,000-, 5000-, or 10,000-share certificates are known to exist. In the 1970’s, the Union Pacific Corporation printed certificates for up to one million shares, which would be a unique addition to any stock certificate collection.
Because stock certificates were usually kept in safe deposit boxes, desk drawers, or other hiding places, new finds are constantly coming on the market, making the discovery of rare antique stock certificates possible even today. For example, one signed by former president George Bush’s great grandfather, Samuel Prescott Bush, has recently been discovered. Although most can be purchased for just a few dollars, there are some that can fetch many times this amount, such as an antique Standard Oil Company certificate signed by John D. Rockefeller, which just set a world record for collectible stock certificates when it sold for the amazing sum of $134,400.
Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
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Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com
2/19/09
Modern Collectible Stock Certificates
Modern Collectible Stock Certificates by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC
Although most collectors of scripophily focus on stock certificates produced during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, modern stock certificates can also be a joy to collect. A stock certificate does not need to be an antique to have historical significance, although older stocks have traditionally been the ones to garner higher prices. In fact, many modern collectors are shifting their interests from stock certificates created during the Industrial Revolution, focusing their attention on those created just a few years ago. These certificates offer collectors a personal connection to the company whose certificate they own.
Since the beginning of stock certificate collecting, scandals have made for particularly popular stock certificates. Bankrupt companies can actually have particularly valuable stock certificates, as collectors scramble for any memorabilia from the now-defunct companies. In fact, Enron and Merrill Lynch are two of the most popular modern stock certificates; recent bankruptcies and scandals make for popular certificates because people feel personally connected to the companies whose certificates they own. This was true with mining, railroad, oil, and other stocks from older eras, and it remains so with dot com companies and others that have gone out of business in the past few years. Bankrupt companies no longer issue stock, so their existing certificates will continue to increase in rarity. As more companies become defunct during the financial crisis, look for the market in modern stock certificates to grow. One signed by Bernie Madoff was recently offered for $100,000 on eBay, though there were no takers.
Others collect the certificates of their favorite company. Although most stock certificate collectors choose stocks for the design or significance of the paper certificate and not for the value of the share (as most collectible certificates are from bankrupt companies), buying stock in your favorite company can be a great way to invest while adding to your collection.
Though the internet has also made it more convenient to purchase older or antique stock certificates, at the same time it is making it even harder to collect modern ones. Bear in mind that you may need to request a paper certificate if buying stock through the normal channels; unfortunately, the majority of today’s stock transactions are paperless, as companies on the New York Stock Exchange are no longer required to issue a paper certificate.
Popular computer-era stocks include eBay, Apple, Atari, Microsoft, and IBM. Those with pop culture references, like those for Harley-Davidson, Pixar, Walt Disney, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or Ford Motor, remain perennial favorites. Because these stock certificates are not scarce, they offer an affordable start to a stock certificate collection.
One pitfall of modern-era socks is that they often do not have the ornate detailing found on earlier examples, although there are certainly exceptions to this. Some modern stocks still include elaborate and high quality full-color designs. Many, particularly those from the 1960’s or 1970’s offer graphics that make them some of the more collectible modern era stock certificates. Those from the Ringling Brothers circus of the 1960s can be worth up to $500 because of their colorful designs, while Playboy certificates from the 1970s are collected for their centerfold depictions, and can fetch up to $400.
Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.
Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com
Although most collectors of scripophily focus on stock certificates produced during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, modern stock certificates can also be a joy to collect. A stock certificate does not need to be an antique to have historical significance, although older stocks have traditionally been the ones to garner higher prices. In fact, many modern collectors are shifting their interests from stock certificates created during the Industrial Revolution, focusing their attention on those created just a few years ago. These certificates offer collectors a personal connection to the company whose certificate they own.
Since the beginning of stock certificate collecting, scandals have made for particularly popular stock certificates. Bankrupt companies can actually have particularly valuable stock certificates, as collectors scramble for any memorabilia from the now-defunct companies. In fact, Enron and Merrill Lynch are two of the most popular modern stock certificates; recent bankruptcies and scandals make for popular certificates because people feel personally connected to the companies whose certificates they own. This was true with mining, railroad, oil, and other stocks from older eras, and it remains so with dot com companies and others that have gone out of business in the past few years. Bankrupt companies no longer issue stock, so their existing certificates will continue to increase in rarity. As more companies become defunct during the financial crisis, look for the market in modern stock certificates to grow. One signed by Bernie Madoff was recently offered for $100,000 on eBay, though there were no takers.
Others collect the certificates of their favorite company. Although most stock certificate collectors choose stocks for the design or significance of the paper certificate and not for the value of the share (as most collectible certificates are from bankrupt companies), buying stock in your favorite company can be a great way to invest while adding to your collection.
Though the internet has also made it more convenient to purchase older or antique stock certificates, at the same time it is making it even harder to collect modern ones. Bear in mind that you may need to request a paper certificate if buying stock through the normal channels; unfortunately, the majority of today’s stock transactions are paperless, as companies on the New York Stock Exchange are no longer required to issue a paper certificate.
Popular computer-era stocks include eBay, Apple, Atari, Microsoft, and IBM. Those with pop culture references, like those for Harley-Davidson, Pixar, Walt Disney, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or Ford Motor, remain perennial favorites. Because these stock certificates are not scarce, they offer an affordable start to a stock certificate collection.
One pitfall of modern-era socks is that they often do not have the ornate detailing found on earlier examples, although there are certainly exceptions to this. Some modern stocks still include elaborate and high quality full-color designs. Many, particularly those from the 1960’s or 1970’s offer graphics that make them some of the more collectible modern era stock certificates. Those from the Ringling Brothers circus of the 1960s can be worth up to $500 because of their colorful designs, while Playboy certificates from the 1970s are collected for their centerfold depictions, and can fetch up to $400.
Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.
Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com
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