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A COA is worthless . . . except when it's not

One of the most complex things to explain to newer autograph collectors is to explain what a certificate of authenticity (COA) is what what value it holds. The problem lies in explaining what a COA is and what it is not. At their best, for the most part, a COA is the hobby equivalent of the TSA in that is presents an illusion of security. The first thing that must be clarified is that a COA is not a legal document, regardless of its wording. Novice collectors tend to fall victim to the fallacy "Well, if it's in writing . . ." With very few exceptions, the best you can hope for if you get burned on a forged item if your money back. If you've given the item as a gift, resold it or had it framed, this isn't quite the great deal you'd initially think.

It's also important to understand that there really isn't a standard for these things. Seeing the 1990's problem with COAs from reputable sources being paired with bad items - or certificates themselves being outright counterfeited - many businesses switched to matching stickers/holograms and online databases. Good dealers sought increased structure and security. The worst dealers, scammers and forgers mimicked this. 

Here's state first thing that new collectors and one-time autograph buyers need to realize: Absolutely anyone with a printer can create a "COA." Anyone can sign them. Frank the electrician can make one to accompany an autograph he knows nothing about. Forgers routinely print them off to accompany the autographs they just signed themselves. Businesses who don't specialize in autographs include them with items they sell in their misguided trust of shady dealers or collectors. These people might be incompetent. They might be thiefs. They could have good intentions and solid knowledge and simply get it wrong.

So, COAs are garbage. Sort of. The problem with this generalization is that it's not always true. The prime exceptions can be found in the modern sports autograph industry. Companies like Steiner, Tristar, Upper Death Authenticated (UDA) and many other companies, big and small, hold and participate in numerous large public and private signings. In addition to being the autograph authentication firm, they are the party obtaining the autographs, recording the information behind them. These are essentially assembly line autographs with the guarantee being an actual guarantee, because there is presumably no lingering doubt about it.

These certificates are worth something, because they dominate the sports collecting market. Take a $1000+ Michael Jordan autograph with UDA certification.  Now take that exact remove the UDA hologram, certificate and database entry. Is the autograph still real? Yes. Is it still worth $1000+. Probably not. Even knowledgable Jordan collectors might back away entirely because of Jordan's long time relationship with the company and the widespread sentiment that you shouldn't touch any autographs from Jordan - possibly the most forged celebrity of the past quarter century - without the UDA authentication.

If I was to purchase a Tom Brady Super Bowl 51 autograph, I would not even look at anything that doesn't have Tristar certification. The second I was to exit Tristar territory in my quest for an authentic Brady, I'm immediately entering a field riddled with mines at every step. He's a forger's dream at the moment: A red hot athlete and a bonafide legend with a simplistic scribble of a signature that can be convincingly forged with minimal effort. Any authentic items will be buried under heaps and heaps of trash and then will only be conclusively identified (if it's even possible) by a very select few. That Tristar sticker and COA are absolutely valuable. The difference in value is hundred of dollars.

This contrast is what makes it so difficult to explain the value, or lack thereof, of COA to those who are new to the hobby. Good sellers and outright fraudsters alike issue them. What they represent requires hobby insight. 

Views: 1352

Comment by Mark Saurin on April 14, 2017 at 11:40am

Rich....very well composed.....in this very dirty, shady industry, education comes at a very high price sometimes...as I know from past experience..

Comment by Rich on April 14, 2017 at 11:52am

Tried to keep it concise. I thought about including PSA, JSA and other TPAs, but that feels like a whole other rant.

Comment by Mr. Steffman on April 14, 2017 at 7:42pm
Good. COA is also an alright way to note the source of the item, for better or for worse, not including fugazi COAs of course.

Something turns me off about an autograph without a story or source. A lot of times I'll ask the source to write down how and when they got the autograph, sign it, and I'll keep that little note with the item.

The Staples COA templates that people print and scribble on, though, those things are as lame as it gets.
Comment by Eric Keith Longo on April 14, 2017 at 7:46pm

If someone is going to forge an autograph they will have no moral or other trouble forging a COA to go with it.

Comment by Rich on April 14, 2017 at 7:47pm

Exactly. Knowing the context also adds to the interest and appeal of an item. 

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 24, 2017 at 8:16pm

Blog posts comments are now in chronological order again.

Comment by Tim G. on August 29, 2018 at 4:37pm

I agree, in this day and age, COA's hold little value. But, without them, who do you Trust? I double the TPA's opinions on everyone of my items. I do this, because even the Authenticators get it wrong. I'm hoping, by using 2 separate TPA's opinions, that they don't both get it wrong. After that, I mainly go with Roger, for the COA. I do this, because Roger specializes in the field that I collect or resell in. Plus, he's not as expensive and he doesn't put those eye sore stickers on your items. They just take away from the Autographs IMO.

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