1969 Lucky Breweries, Inc. Specimen Stock Certificate (Lucky Lager)
Raise a toast to West Coast brewing history with this 1969 Lucky Breweries, Inc. Specimen stock certificate — a
true conversation-starter for scripophily collectors, vintage paper lovers, and beer-history fans. Printed
in 1969, this specimen example captures the era when Lucky Lager was a household name.
About Lucky Breweries, Inc.
Lucky Breweries dates back to 1934, when Eugene Selvage and Paul von Gontard
(grandson of Adolphus Busch) founded the General Brewing Company in San Francisco right after
Prohibition’s repeal. Their first beer was Lucky Lager, later evolving into the Lucky Lager Brewing Company
in the late 1940s.
Lucky Lager became one of the best-selling beers in the West. In 1969, the company changed its name
to Lucky Breweries, Inc. Shortly afterward, the brand was sold and went through multiple ownership changes —
and today, Lucky is owned by Pabst Brewing.
What Makes This a “Specimen” Stock Certificate?
Specimen stock certificates were archived by printers and the company as perfect example copies of a stock issue.
Unlike issued shares, specimen certificates are typically marked to show they were never meant for standard trading.
Specimen identifiers may include a “specimen” stamp, stamped holes spelling “specimen,” a series
of zeros, or sometimes no serial number at all. They can even represent designs that were
never issued — making specimens especially desirable for collectors.
Design Details You’ll Recognize
Lucky Breweries is known for its iconic mid-century brand identity, including the classic label featuring a bold red “X”
behind the company name in red, white, and gold.
The look is associated with designer Walter Landor.
Lucky also earned a reputation as an early macrobrewery innovator by stamping freshness/brewing dates directly onto cans decades
before it became industry standard.
Condition Notes
- Condition: Some page bumping in the middle.
- Visibility: Hardly visible; should display nicely.
Perfect For
- Collectors of scripophily (vintage stock certificates & ephemera)
- Beer history fans who love Lucky Lager lore
- Vintage paper / mid-century design enthusiasts
- Anyone looking for a rare specimen-style stock example
Why You’ll Want This One
This 1969 Lucky Breweries, Inc. Specimen certificate offers a unique slice of brewing history at the exact moment
the company’s name transitioned to Lucky Breweries, Inc. It’s also a specimen — often rarer and more interesting to collectors
than issued versions of the same share design.
