Scripophily

Scripophily

Scripophily is the practice of collecting antique stock certificates, bond certificates and similar financial documents due to their historical or aesthetic value. Factors which can play into the value of an antique stock or bond certificate include the physical condition and paper quality of the certificate, the engraving or printing of the certificate, the rarity and the face value of the certificate, and subsequent markings such as tax stamps or cancellation markings. Bob Kerstein, the CEO of Scripophily.com, reported selling a certificate from the Apple Computer IPO for $1300 in 2012. Scripophily is the practice of collecting antique stock certificates, bond certificates and similar financial documents due to their historical or aesthetic value. Scripophily is the practice of collecting antique stock certificates, bond certificates and similar financial documents due to their historical or aesthetic value. In recent years, some companies have embraced the value of paper stock certificates as collectors items, issuing paper certificates to investors upon request.

Scripophily is the practice of collecting antique stock certificates, bond certificates and similar financial documents due to their historical or aesthetic value.

What Is Scripophily?

Scripophily is the practice of collecting antique stock certificates, bond certificates and similar financial documents due to their historical or aesthetic value.

Scripophily is the practice of collecting antique stock certificates, bond certificates and similar financial documents due to their historical or aesthetic value.
Scripophily combines the English word "scrip", which means an ownership right, and the Greek word "philos", which means to love.
Scripophilists collect certificates for a number of reasons, including company affinity, aesthetic value of the certificates, history of ownership, and for the signatures of previous owners.

Understanding Scripophily

Scripophily combines the English word "scrip", which means an ownership right, and the Greek word "philos", which means to love. Scripophily is a hobby devoted to collecting stock certificates, bond certificates and other similar financial instruments for their historical value. Similar in many ways to stamp collecting or coin collecting, scripophily is a specialized field of numismatics, focused entirely on the historical significance of paper stock and bond certificates.

Although in recent years the advent of electronic trading and record-keeping has made paper certificates obsolete for most companies trading on the public market, authenticated certificates for stocks and bonds were commonplace in the markets, serving as proof of investment. Paper certificates were authenticated or decommissioned with signatures, stamps and similar markings.

As a hobby, scripophily began to rise in popularity in the late 20th century. Numismatists interested in scripophily began to collect stock certificates, particularly those issued by companies no longer in business, and thus without cash value in the market. Scripophilists collect certificates for a number of reasons, including company affinity and the aesthetic value of the certificates. Some collectors are interested in certificates because of their history of ownership, and some certificates are valued for the signatures of previous owners.

Factors which can play into the value of an antique stock or bond certificate include the physical condition and paper quality of the certificate, the engraving or printing of the certificate, the rarity and the face value of the certificate, and subsequent markings such as tax stamps or cancellation markings.

Bob Kerstein, the CEO of Scripophily.com, reported selling a certificate from the Apple Computer IPO for $1300 in 2012. Because Apple no longer issues paper certificates, the sale price of Kerstein’s certificate more than doubled the current Apple per-share price at the time.

Scripophily and the Modern Re-Emergence of Stock Certificates

In recent years, some companies have embraced the value of paper stock certificates as collectors items, issuing paper certificates to investors upon request. Facebook, Martha Stewart Living and Pixar have all begun to issue paper certificates to collectors who request them, so long as the certificates meet certain SEC stipulations. More than 100 companies make collectible paper certificates available via GiveAShare.com.

Typically, modern paper certificates are issued for single shares, and by SEC regulation are marked as non-redeemable and non-transferable. Additionally, traders of certificates of active stocks are required to sell certificates for at least twice the amount of the current value of the actual stock.

Related terms:

Fixed Income & Examples

Fixed income refers to assets and securities that bear fixed cash flows for investors, such as fixed rate interest or dividends. read more

Negotiable

Negotiable refers to the price of a good or security that is not firmly established or whose ownership is easily transferable from one party to another. read more

Numismatics

The study and celebration of payment media (currencies), that mainly focuses on researching the production and use of coins, to determine their rarity. read more

Registered Bond Defintion

A registered bond has its owner's name and contact information recorded with the issuing entity, ensuring coupon payments are correctly distributed. read more

Retirement of Securities

Retirement of securities is the cancellation of stocks or bonds because the issuer has bought them back or their maturity date has been reached.  read more

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a U.S. government agency created by Congress to regulate the securities markets and protect investors. read more

Share Certificate

A share certificate is a written document verifying a stockholder owns shares of a company; this paper stock certificate has largely been phased out in the digital age. read more

Signature Guarantee

A signature guarantee is a form of authentication issued by a bank or other financial institution verifying the legitimacy of a signature and request. read more

Stock Certificate

A stock certificate proves the holder has ownership in the company, as it displays the number of shares owned, the date of purchase, a corporate seal, and other confirmations of identity. read more

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is the name given to stocks, bonds and other securities that have become worthless.  read more