Hi, new looky loo here...

I worked in unclaimed assets for 4 years (stocks, bank accounts, mutual funds).

Stock is owned by the estate of the deceased.

The family can merely have the certificates you found in the locker "stopped" and replaced.

Also, you would not be able to even attempt to redeem the share value without nearly 1mill in bank fraud procuring bogus medallion stamps (special ink required), and forged court documents.

I can believe that people collect the physical shares as Art of sorts.

I had see many in my line of work and some are highly ornate.