How to Redeem Old Stock Certificates

Sometimes old stock certificates may still be traded.

Somehow, someway you have come across a box of old stock certificates that you or your family forgot they had.
Now you want to know if you are sitting on a mountain of money, or simply a pile of paper.
The issuance of stock certificates is not as prevalent as it used to be, today when you buy shares of company they sit in your investment account until you decide to sell them.

Things You'll Need

• Stock Certificates
• Computer with Internet Access

Instructions

1. Determine if the company still exists.
   You can do this quite quickly and inexpensively by completing an internet search for the name of the company listed on the front of the certificate.

2. Call a stock broker and give them the CUSIP number.
   A CUSIP number is similar to a serial number that is unique to each stock certificate.
   If your initial search for the company was unsuccessful, providing the CUSIP number to a stock broker will allow the broker to determine the status of the company, if it exists or if it merged with another company or was taken over by another company.
   The broker also will be able to tell you the value of shares, and if they are still traded.

3. Open an investment account, sign the back of the certificates and deposit them into the account.
   Once the deposit is completed you may now redeem the stock certificates by placing an order to sell them.

Tips & Warnings

• If the stock certificates are worthless in the stock market, they may still have value to a collector.

• According to the Pratt Library, the hobby of collecting old stock certificates is called "Scripophily," and some stock certificates that are worthless as securities could have significant value to collectors.

References

• Pratt Library: What to do with Old Stock Certificates
• BNET: Old Stock Certificates
• Securities and Exchange Commission: Old Stock Certificates

Resources

• Investopedia: Old Stock Certificates