Expert: Steven Taylor - 12/14/2009

Question
Mr. Taylor, I have found old stock certificates belonging to my great-grandfather dated 1913 and 1921. The company name on the 1913 certificate reads "Canadian Casey Cobalt Company Limited". This certificate was for IR£50. The company name on the second certificate, dated 1921, reads "Casey Cobalt Mining Company Limited" and is for shares to the value of $50. Could you explain to me why the company names on both certificates are different as I am almost 100% sure it is the same company. Also, is this company still trading and if not, where might I find information on the business when it was in operation?
Yours, Alison, Ireland

Answer
Unfortunately, I have no information on those companies, although they predate most of the information I have available. They may or may not be the same company. Since the functional currency in each case is different, one may have been a subsidiary of the other. Regardless, considering the age and that very few mining companies survived the Great Depression and then WWII, it is unlike there is much, if any, value there, but it is worth trying. I suggest you contact a broker to see if they can perform a more detailed search for you.