Your main questions:
-  Does the stock have any value?
-  Is it redeemable?
-  Is the company still around?
-  How do I get money for it?
-  What is the collectible value?

First, check if the company is still traded on any major financial site.  Most sites have a company name to symbol search system.  If you have no luck, check the links below.

 
Please check out our categorized resources below (updated September 2012). 

If you have inherited or discovered old stock certificates,  you may have found a fortune or maybe only a neat collectible.  These links and companies will help you to research your stocks to see if they are obsolete or negotiable.  Some links are free, while other links are for companies that charge research fees. 

Of course, we suggest starting with the free resources (transfer agents & state regulators) to see if your old stock is worth anything other than a collectible piece of paper. These are the places to start and only cost your time.

Please note that OldStocks.com does not provide what a stock might be worth as an investment.  Our business is collectible old stock certificates for which we can only estimate based on similar pieces in the market.

Determining value:

If the certificates are not cancelled (perforated, hole punches, stamped, or otherwise marked), you can research by yourself or, save time, and pay for the service.  These services also may help with redemption questions and procedures (how to get your money if it is worth something as an investment). We get no compensation from the links to fee-based research sites and list this only as information if you choose this route.
 

Internet resources:

You can also check for yourself to see if the company still exists or merged into another company.  It may still have value!  The following links may help in your research.  We provide information on stock exchanges, transfer agents, and state security contacts.  We leave it up to you to check the financial sites for company symbol or listing.

We highly recommend contacting the State Securities Regulators in your investigation of a company or stock certificate.  The state of incorporation is normally stated on the face of the certificate.  The second most important resource is the transfer agent.  We have many links below to trace information from transfer agents (also indicated on most modern securities).  Corporate archives are also a good source for old or merged companies.

Reference Guides for collecting   (see more in Scripophily Reference Books )

Offline Research

A number of the above links list books and offline contacts that might help in your search.  We did not list them here in order to save space.  Don't forget to use your local library! The Directory of Obsolete Securities (issued every year) covers hundreds of thousands of old securities and merger information.  It is found in larger libraries.

Found something valuable?

Contact a licensed broker or authorized financial institution to redeem.  Usually, an active company has investor information on their website (e.g. their transfer agent).  Your broker or transfer agent can also help with merged company information and how securities are handled from previous company names.

Collectible Value

We will provide you with FREE valuation for your certificates as collectibles.  We have a large collection of references and databases of previously sold items so we can provide a good retail figure on most any US piece.  Again, this service is completely free!  We can also tell you the best places to sell your item if we do not purchase it.  However, we cannot provide the investment value of any active security. 

Please use the links above or a securities broker for investment research on any item thought to be negotiable.  The SEC also has great resources to start.

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