Caterpillar Inc. 2006 Specimen Stock Certificate (CAT)

Add a piece of corporate history to your collection with this Caterpillar Inc. specimen stock certificate, printed in 2006. Featuring Caterpillar’s iconic “CAT” legacy, this archival specimen certificate is a favorite among scripophily collectors.

About Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)

Caterpillar Inc., commonly known as CAT, is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. Renowned for its trademark Caterpillar Yellow livery, Caterpillar is recognized globally as an industrial powerhouse supporting major projects across industries worldwide.

Caterpillar Milestones That Shaped the CAT Legacy

Origins (Late 1800s–1904): The company’s roots trace back to inventors Daniel Best and Benjamin Holt. In 1904, Holt created the first successful track-type tractor, later inspiring the “caterpillar” name.
1925 Merger: The Holt Manufacturing Company and C.L. Best Tractor Company merged to form the Caterpillar Tractor Company, with trading beginning on the San Francisco Stock Exchange in August 1925.
Diesel Innovation (1931): Caterpillar perfected a diesel engine (the D9900), transforming heavy-duty vehicles.
World War II (1940s): Caterpillar supported the U.S. military with heavy machinery and diesel engines, including engines that powered Sherman (M4) tanks.
Modern Era (2000s–Present): Caterpillar expanded into new markets such as oil and gas, with global operations headquartered in Irving, Texas, and equipment operating across all seven continents.

What Makes This a “Specimen” Stock Certificate?

Specimen stock certificates are archived certificates printed by the company and its printers as perfect examples of a stock issue. Collectors prize specimens because they can be visibly different from issued shares. Specimens are often identified by one or more of these traits:

Marked with a “specimen” stamp
Stamped holes spelling “specimen”
Issued with a serial number featuring a series of zeros
Sometimes issued with no serial number
They may also represent a design that was never issued

Because of these distinguishing features, specimen certificates are typically rarer than issued versions of the same share. This makes them especially desirable to collectors of scripophily—a collecting category devoted to historic and vintage stock and bond certificates.