Mercer Motors Company Stock Certificate (1923) | Luxury Sports Car Legend

This Mercer Motors Company stock certificate was issued in 1923 and is hand-signed—making it a wonderful choice for collectors who love early American industrial history and automotive scripophily. These stock certificates are very rare.

Mercer Automobile Company (later reorganized as Mercer Motors Company) was a trailblazing luxury sports-car maker known for building lightweight, high-performance machines with an obsession for speed and handling—so much so that many automotive historians consider Mercer America’s first true sports car.

Why Mercer Stock Certificates Are So Sought-After

• Issued in 1923 (early automotive era)
• Hand-signed certificate—always a plus for authenticity and display value
• Legendary brand story: Mercer became famous for hand-crafted, race-minded performance
• Collector-friendly theme: classic American automobiles, elite engineering, and speed culture

Mercer Motors: The Speed-First Origin Story

Founded in New Jersey (1909)

Mercer was founded in 1909 in Trenton, New Jersey, named after Mercer County. It was established by the wealthy Roebling family (Brooklyn Bridge fame) and the Kuser family, using the assets of the struggling Walter Automobile Company to launch Mercer.

The Racing Minds Behind the Brand

Washington A. Roebling II (a racing enthusiast) spearheaded development together with engineer Finley Robertson Porter.

The Iconic “Raceabout” (Type 35-J)

Mercer’s crown jewel arrived in 1911: the Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout. Porter’s approach was simple—remove every non-essential weight and let speed do the talking.

• Stripped design: no standard windshield, doors, or roof—featuring only a monocle windscreen and a barrel fuel tank behind the seats
• Engine: a 5-liter, 4-cylinder “T-head” producing roughly 55–60 horsepower
• Big promise: Mercer guaranteed the Raceabout could exceed 70 mph straight out of the box (while standard cars often struggled to reach 45 mph)

Racing Dominance (1911–1914)

The Raceabout didn’t just look fast—it proved it. In 1911, it won five of the six major races it entered, and later delivered a historic win at the 1914 Grand Prize road race, sparking a rivalry with the Stutz Bearcat.

Decline and the End of Mercer

Mercer’s story was cut by tragedy and changing control. In 1912, Washington Roebling II died aboard the Titanic, and engineer Finley Porter left shortly after in 1914.

• 1918: remaining founding family members had passed away; Wall Street investment syndicates took control
• Multiple restructurings: under the Mercer Motors Company name, management and finances became unstable
• 1924: production halted
• 1925: the company folded after building fewer than 13,000 vehicles

Product Details

• Company: Mercer Motors Company
• Issue Year: 1923
• Signature: hand-signed
• Collecting Theme: early American luxury sports cars & scripophily