Buy Old Stock Certificates
The 1921 Willys Corporation stock certificate is sure to appeal to those who collect automobile memorabilia, while the framed Harley Davidson certificate will likely be a welcome addition to the collection of any motorcycle enthusiast. The extensive selection includes certificates from companies that are no longer in business such as F. W. Woolworth, companies that are still going strong such as Anheuser-Busch, and companies that have had name changes due to mergers such as Phillips Petroleum. Some customer favorites are Walt Disney Stock Certificates and Apple Stock Certificates. The collection includes original stock certificates as well as specimens. Our vast range of stock certificate gifts gives you a range of choices for your holiday gifts or stock certificate collection.
buy old stock certificates
If you discover that a company has merged into or been acquired by a company that currently exists, contact the successor company's investor relations or shareholder services department about redeeming the stock.
If you still can't find what happened to a company using these sources, you may choose to have the stock of incorporated companies searched by a fee-based company that specializes in that kind of research. For names and addresses of stock search firms, go to the Goldsheet Obsolete Securities Page mentioned above.
Some stock search firms charge as much as $75 per company and use many of the same sources located at your local library. However, these companies can search records in other places not accessible to libraries, such as bankruptcy courts and state unclaimed property offices. Remember that some companies may have generated and retained their own records over a period of many years.
Contains a directory of active stocks (addressing currently traded, actives issues), and a directory of obsolete securities (providing a brief profile of companies whose original identities have been lost through actions affecting their outstanding stock) updated annually and through monthly supplements.
Volumes 5 through 15 list companies whose securities may have a liquidating or exchange value, or may be identified as worthless. This reference superseded the "Marvyn Scudder Manual of Extinct or Obsolete Companies", which was published by Marvyn Scudder in four volumes, and included stocks issued from 1926 to 1937.
Summarizes all over-the-counter and inactive listed stock offerings and bids that have appeared either in the national daily quotation services or the leading daily newspapers and financial periodicals. Published monthly.
Old Company ResearchAn affiliate of Scripophily.com LLC, The Gift of History, which provides collectible stock and bond certificates and other old paper items, will research information on old stocks and companies.
R. M. Smythe & Co.1-888-STOCKS6 (1.888.786.25761), 800-622-1880, P.O. Box 223795, Chantilly, Virginia, 20153, a firm that will trace the value of old stock certificates. For a fee, the company will investigate the market or collectible value of your certificate.
If the company is no longer in existence, the share certificate itself might still have some value to a collector. Share certificates are collected by scripophily enthusiasts for their historical significance and/or for their artwork and intricate engraving.
Collect old stock certificates as financial artWe sell obsolete stocks and bonds from railroad, automotive, aviation, and general industry. We are leaders in the hobby of scripophily, collecting old stocks and bonds, with an inventory worth billions of dollars (it was at one time). We focus on the affordable, novelty items but we do offer some highly desirable pieces for the expert collector. We also have starter sets for the stock collecting beginner and fun gifts. These are real certificates that were actually used in investment. They are cool and unique collectibles with easy and secure shopping.
All old certificates are only sold as collectibles.No investment value is implied, transferred, or considered. No transfer of securities is performed. Stocks are cancelled or obsolete. We cannot provide investment advice or valuation but we do provide links to industry experts and governmental agencies. Research links are provided at no cost. If interested in laws and rules around the trading or transfer of securities, please use the resources at SEC.gov and other referenced links.
There, somewhere in New Jersey, were newly painted oil tanks clearly labeled Meenan Oil. Wait a sec! I had a stock certificate for several thousand shares of Meenan Oil, but I was told the company was defunct.
Two companies absolutely no longer existed, but there were two small businesses with the exact name as the defunct companies. Both small business owners were intrigued and asked if they could buy the stock certificate to display in their offices. No problem, I said. We earned $100 more.
There are businesses that buy and sell old stock certificates, and individuals hawking them on eBay, Amazon, etc. The buying, selling, displaying and collecting of old stock certificates is called scripophily. Does that make me a scripophilist?
Why do these old certificates fascinate so many people? For starters, just as I found out with my Meenan moment, they may actually have some retained value. Some currently profitable companies were once organized under different names, but the old certificates are still valid.
Some people have found old stock certificates in their homes. At one time, the purchases were a great source of accomplishment and pride. Over the years, however, the owners may have filed them away, only to forget about them.
The easiest place to start is with free online company research sites. Several companies maintain databases with information about active stock issuing enterprises. To name a few, you can try Dun & Bradstreet, Yahoo! Finance and the Wall Street Journal.
A valid stock certificate bears the name of the beneficiary. Also, all seals and signatures should be undamaged. In other words, there should be no hole punches or stamps over any of the seals or signatures on the certificate. In addition, the back of the certificate should be clean and free of marks.
Your research will tell you which company, if any, is currently linked to the certificate. The listings you find will give you key information. This could include company name changes as well as changes in corporate structure. It will also give you information about how the exchange affected existing stocks.
Not anyone can cash in a stock certificate. Most stocks are issued to an individual, but they do transfer to heirs. In this case, the transfer agent will tell you that you need to provide a probated will if you inherited the certificate. However, once the transfer agent registers you as the owner, you can do with it as you please.
When companies change hands, this can drastically change the value of a stock certificate. The agent will explain all the corporate changes since the stock was issued. They will also explain how changes in company ownership affect your stock value. You may even have unpaid dividends waiting for you to collect!
If you find yourself in possession of old stock certificates, you have a few options for selling them. You can cash them in through the transfer agent of the company with which the stock is owned. Or, you can work with a broker to sell the stock. Research the value of the stock to know whether you are holding on to fortune in cash or simply a pretty, collectible piece of paper.
Getting rid of stock certificates isn't hard, but it does require some leg work. The easiest way to make the sale is to set up an account with an online brokerage firm. If you have at least $25,000 to invest, Zecco.com offers free trades. If you have less than that, TradeKing.com offers trades for $5. Either way, the commissions at most online brokerage firms are reasonable.
Next, you need to get the certificate to the brokerage firm. Most stock certificates have a place on the back where you sign to transfer ownership. Call your online brokerage firm and ask if they need you to sign the certificate in any particular way.
Then you have to mail the certificate to the brokerage firm. Most online brokers will provide a mailing address on their website, but again, it's safest to ask. Finally, mail the certificate from the nearest Post Office and be sure to pay extra for certified mail and perhaps insurance, depending on the value of the stock.
Once the certificate arrives at the brokerage firm, it could take a few days before the shares are credited to your account. Once the position shows up, you can sell the stock, remembering that you'll need to pay the commission. There may also be tax considerations when you sell, a topic covered extensively in the Ask Matt archives, such as here.
After you sell the stock, it generally takes about three days before the trade settles and the cash is deposited to your online brokerage account. Once it's there, you need to transfer it to a place you can access it. Most online brokerages will let you set up free cash transfers between your brokerage account and a bank checking account. After you execute the transfer, you should have the money sitting in your checking account. 041b061a72