Exhibition : Bubbles and bankruptcy

"Even the most reasoned investment can occasionally fail."

Scripophily in The British Museum

The Coins and Medals department of the British Museum recently opened its exhibition Bubbles and bankruptcy - Financial crises in Britain since 1700.

The exhibit brings us stories of mismanagement, speculative frenzy and fraud, bubbles, manias and crashes in Britain from the 1700s until the present. On display are original prospectuses, banknotes, and naturally, share certificates and bonds play a prominent role. 

Included as well are modern cartoons, antique satirical prints and modern works of art, representing satire and protest about financial crises.

Gregor MacGregor persuaded investors to buy shares
in a country in South America that he called Poyais. Many
investors poured their savings into the scheme and boarded
ships to begin a new life in a non existing colony which was
made up by MacGregor’s imagination.

Poyais loan of 100 Pounds Sterling, 1823
double-click the image to enlarge

© The Trustees of the British Museum

Practical info

• location : room 69a, The British Museum, London
• duration : 29 November 2012 - 5 May 2013
• opening hours : daily 10:00 - 17:30 (closing 17:20), on Fridays open until 20:30 (except Good Friday 29 March 2013 )
• entrance fee : free

Further reference

• More info on the Bubbles and bankruptcy exhibit, see here and there.
• Press release by the British Museum
• Bubbles & Bankruptcy, Tom Hockenhull - British Museum, Spink Insider magazine, Issue 14, pages  26 - 29, currently online here
• Wikipedia's Gregor MacGregor, cacique of Poyais

Why not combine an IBSS London meeting with a visit to the museum ?

F.L.

Interested in other scripophily events ? Check out the calendar.