They accompany all kinds of art and are offered by galleries, private sellers, artists, websites and at auctions, especially online auctions like eBay and LiveAuctioneers. So please help me understand certificates of authenticity.Ī: To begin with, you need to know what a Certificate of Authenticity or COA is because all kinds of COAs are floating around out there, both real and fake. The gallery said they would mail the certificates to me, but I have yet to receive them. In both cases, they shipped the art but no certificates. Q: Should a collector get a certificate of authenticity (COA) when he or she buys a work of art? Or should the certificate be sent separately after they buy the art? Who writes these certificates and what makes them valid? The reason I'm asking is that I bought two limited edition prints from an online art gallery and I expected that the gallery would provide certificates of authenticity with the art. Email me at or give me a call at 415.931.7875 to make an appointment if you have any questions about whether a COA is valid or not, or what types of information a valid COA should include. Related Topic: Art Provenance: What It Is and How to Verify ItĪre you an artist who wants to include COAs with your art? Are you a collector who has questions about a COA? I regularly consult on all aspects of COAs.
