What is a COA?
A COA is a “Certificate of Authenticity”. The main purpose of a COA is to provide a paper trail as to where the signature was obtained so that you know that the autograph is authentic and real. A COA does NOT prove that an item is authentic, it simply proves that the item in question was handled by a company giving the COA at the time of the signing. A COA is only as good at the company which issues it, so be wary of fly-by-night companies, or any company that you have a hard time contacting or visiting. If you are collecting for yourself and have no plans for reselling the autograph, then a COA is not really necessary. You have the memory of meeting the athlete and your autograph is a memento of that occasion. If you plan on reselling the item, or if you are hoping that the item will appreciate in value in the future, then a COA is a definite must for the item.
