Here’s a neat-sounding event that NYSE Euronext is sponsoring next week at the Museum of American Finance. From the museum’s Web site:

Thursday, September 10, 2009
05:30 PM to 07:00 PM
MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE
48 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Tel: 212.908.4110
Fax: 212.908.4601

Please join us on Thursday, September 10, for a reception to open “Actien Handel: Early Dutch Finance and the Founding of America,” an exhibit showcasing the relationship between early Dutch finance and the United States. On display will be financial documents from Amsterdam, including the oldest known share certificate, which was issued by the Dutch East India Company in 1606.

The exhibit will tie in with the city-wide celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s exploration of the area that became New Amsterdam (and later New York), and will focus on the financial aspects of the area’s first 200 years. The exhibit is a collaboration among the Museum of American Finance, NYSE Euronext, Amsterdam City Archives and the Dutch Exchange Heritage Foundation (Stichting VvdE), and features exceptional documents from these organizations. In addition to the oldest share certificate (which was featured in the 2004 motion picture “Ocean’s Twelve”), the exhibit will include documents relating to early Dutch share trading, the bubbles of 1720, and John Adams’ successful bid to secure a loan from Dutch bankers on behalf of the Continental Congress, which was the first ever U.S. state loan.

“Actien Handel” is sponsored by NYSE Euronext and Stichting VvdE within the framework of Capital Amsterdam and will be on display through October 17, 2009.

This event is FREE and open to the public. For information, please contact Lindsay Seeger at 212-908-4110.

To register, there’s a button at the link above.

I’ve only seen reproductions of that first stock certificate; would be cool to see the real thing that started this all. I think I remember Bart Ward telling me he had seen it during a visit to Amsterdam.

In fact, I can’t think of a better time to be reminded of the importance of financial markets in the growth and prosperity of nations. Maybe I’ll see you there!