Knowledge base
Certificate of authenticity (COA)
A supporting document whose usefulness depends on who issued it, what it says, and what evidence sits behind it.
A certificate of authenticity identifies an artwork and records an authenticity statement made by its issuer. The document is more useful when the issuer has recognized authority for that artist and the certificate describes the specific object precisely.
Useful fields
- Artist, title, date, medium, and dimensions
- Edition size and number where relevant
- A photograph or inventory reference that ties the certificate to the object
- Issuer’s name, role, contact details, signature, and date
- Any limits on the statement being made
A COA does not independently create authenticity, provenance, legal title, condition, or resale demand. A seller-generated certificate that merely repeats a listing carries less weight than a document from an artist, estate, foundation, publisher, or other relevant authority.
Keep the COA with the invoice, seller details, payment record, object photographs, provenance information, and condition documentation. Buying the physical object or receiving a COA does not by itself transfer copyright.
Sources
- Copyright Ownership and TransferU.S. Copyright Office