Certificate of Authenticity
Also: COA, authenticity certificate
A written record affirming a fossil's identity, provenance, condition, and any restoration. A good COA is specific and hard to forge; it is your permanent proof and a key to resale.
A certificate of authenticity (COA) is the written record that travels with a fossil, affirming what it is, where it came from, its condition, and any work done to it. A good one is specific and honest; a vague or generic certificate is little better than no certificate at all.
What a strong COA includes
Look for an accurate species identification, the formation and generalized locality, the geologic age, the slant height or other measurements, and — crucially — a frank statement of any restoration or composite work. It records the provenance so the specimen's story stays attached to it.
Why it matters
A COA is your proof for insurance, resale, and your own peace of mind, and it is the document a future buyer or museum will want to see. Every specimen in our collection can be issued one, backed by our lifetime authenticity guarantee. Our guide on grading and valuing shark teeth explains how the details on a certificate translate into a fair price.
The best certificate is the one that discloses the most — including a specimen's flaws.