Stocks and Bonds

Stocks and bonds comprise a large portion of the Museum’s collection with thousands of examples ranging in date from the 18th century to contemporary corporations including the Internet bubble. The collection features certificates from a variety of industries – from banking and finance to transportation and technology – and many are signed by historically significant figures, including presidents and other political figures, industry titans and renowned corporate leaders. Highlights include a 1792 US Treasury bond issued to George Washington bearing one of the first known uses of the dollar sign, a $100,000 bond issued to Andrew Carnegie in 1901 when US Steel was formed as one of J.P. Morgan's outstanding corporate deals and an 1869 Erie Railway certificate signed by Jay Gould.

Images of select items from this collection can be viewed below. For additional images, please visit our Flickr page.

American Express Certificate for five shares of stock in the American Express Company, dated October 21, 1853 and signed by Wells Fargo founders Henry Wells (president) and William Fargo (secretary).

Erie Railway Certificate for 10 shares of stock in Jay Gould’s Erie Railway Company dated October 13, 1869 and signed by Gould as president.

Ford Stock certificate for 10 shares in the Ford Motor Company of Canada, signed by Henry Ford as president in 1908.

Gray Goose Stock certificate for 50 shares in Gray Goose Airways, dated September 13, 1937.

Martha Stewart Stock certificate designed by Martha Stewart for her media and consumer product company, dated July 2, 2002.

Standard Oil This certificate for 250 shares of stock in the Standard Oil Company is issued to William Rockefeller and signed by John D. Rockefeller (president) and Henry Flagler (Secretary).

Washington Bond This bond, dated January 17, 1792, was owned and signed by George Washington while he was president. It is for $185.98 of assumed debt; interest was paid from January 1, 1792.