An exceptionally unusual 1999 Enron financial deal toy / transaction tombstone — and a fascinating piece of late-1990s Wall Street and corporate history.
Designed in the form of an oversized stopwatch, this large and substantial commemorative piece marks Enron's February 11, 1999 common-stock offering totaling an extraordinary:
The opposite face incorporates the famous multicolor ENRON logo into a stopwatch design marked Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3, together with the striking statement:
The stopwatch design creates a dramatic visual commemoration of the speed associated with this enormous financial transaction.
Known in the financial industry as deal toys, financial tombstones or transaction tombstones, pieces such as this were created as commemoratives marking significant financial transactions.
This example was originally identified by a manufacturer's label from The Corporate Presence, a longtime designer of financial deal toys and transaction tombstones.
The transaction information prominently features Credit Suisse First Boston and also lists major Wall Street firms involved with the offering, including Lehman Brothers and other members of the underwriting group.
Rather than being a conventional Enron advertising giveaway, this piece commemorates a specific $865 million securities transaction, making it especially interesting to collectors of Enron and Wall Street history.
Today, this commemorative has taken on a historical significance its original recipients could scarcely have anticipated.
Created during the height of Enron's late-1990s growth, the stopwatch proudly records:
Less than three years later, Enron would file for bankruptcy in December 2001, transforming what was originally a celebration of a major financial transaction into a striking artifact from one of the most infamous corporate collapses in American history.
The stopwatch design gives the piece remarkable historical irony today — a corporate memento celebrating speed, money and financial success from a company that would soon become synonymous with one of the defining business scandals of its era.
It is an unusual piece of Enron, Wall Street and American corporate history.
This is not a small promotional trinket. It is a large, heavy and substantial desktop piece.
| Diameter | Approx. 5 1/4 inches (13.3 cm) |
| Thickness | Approx. 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 0.509 kg / 1.12 lb / 18 oz |
Measurements refer to the main body and do not include the protruding stopwatch-style crown/pusher or cord.
Good vintage condition with noticeable age and handling wear.
The silver-colored outer body shows scattered surface scratches, scuffs, rub marks, small nicks and areas of finish wear/discoloration, particularly around the sides and edges.
The clear faces show some light surface marks; however, the important Enron graphics, lettering, stopwatch design and stock-offering information remain clear, colorful and highly presentable.
The stopwatch-style crown and side pusher are present.
The cord is present and shows age/discoloration and some fraying at the end.
Please examine all photographs carefully for exact cosmetic condition. The photographs show the actual item being offered and form an important part of the description.
Enron Memorabilia • Wall Street Memorabilia • Financial Deal Toys • Financial Tombstones • Investment Banking Memorabilia • Stock Market History • Corporate History • Corporate Scandal Memorabilia • Lehman Brothers Memorabilia • 1990s Business Memorabilia
An exceptionally unusual physical reminder of Enron at the height of its financial success.