how do I find the value on General Motors Stock Certificates purchased 01/20/1984?

Answer 1

there is a publication called the daily stock record (or very similar) which has the daily closing prices for all exchange traded issues going back to the 1920s.

you'll find this in the reference or business section of any college library that has a business school.

this will tell you what the shares traded for on that date, which is close enough to the value you paid. [if you inherited these shares, the closing price on the inheritance valuation date is the value].

***
if you have the certificates and have not been receiving dividend checks for these many years, you have a problem.

you'd then do best to write to the company's stock tranfer agent [see the investor's section of the GM website for the name and address of the agent] and explain your situation.

do NOT send the shares to the transfer agent until they tell you the correct address, etc. [they'd likely get misrouted if not lost]. {and then you'll want to use registered mail with return receipt AND keep a xerox of the certificates}

GM shares also had some smaller companies split off from GM over the past 23 years ... the transfer agent will handle this for you.


GL

Answer 2

If you do business at a bank, they all have investment advisors that can help you for free until you decide to sell or buy stock. Then they have a broker's fee like anyone else. But the investor can give you this info for free. He should take copies of your certificates and get back to you, or may be able to let you know right there.
Good Luck!