Definition of 'Stock Certificate' The physical piece of paper representing ownership in a company. Stock certificates will include information such as the number of shares owned, the date, an identification number, usually a corporate seal, and signatures. They are a bit bigger than normal piece of paper and most of them have intricate designs to discourage fraudulent replication.
Investopedia explains 'Stock Certificate' Stocks are the foundation of nearly every portfolio and they represent partial ownership in a company. Usually the records of ownership are kept in electronic form but you can request a paper version. Each certificate starts out as a standard design which might change throughout the years, then the date, identification number, and other information is added. Most signatures of executives are printed on the certificate but some will actually be signed with a pen. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stockcertificate.asp
Stock certificates are generally divided into two forms: registered stock certificates and bearer stock certificates. A registered stock certificate is normally only evidence of title, and a record of the true holders of the shares will appear in the stockholder's register of the corporation. A bearer stock certificate, as its name implies is a bearer instrument, and physical possession of the certificate entitles the holder to exercise all legal rights associated with the stock. Bearer stock certificates are becoming uncommon: they were popular in offshore jurisdictions for their perceived confidentiality, and as a useful way to transfer beneficial title to assets (held by the corporation) without payment of stamp duty. International initiatives have curbed the use of bearer stock certificates in offshore jurisdictions, and tend to be available only in onshore financial centers, although they are rarely seen in practice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_certificate
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