Certificates of Authenticity: What They Mean (and Don’t)

“Certificate of authenticity” sounds official, but it usually isn’t. This short answer explains what a COA can legitimately add, what it cannot prove, and how to translate a certificate into a real evidence question.

⁂ Scope note: Ocean Liner Curator does not authenticate items or issue certificates. This page provides an evidence-first method for evaluating COAs and separating documentation from presentation.

1) A COA is a claim, not proof

A certificate is a document that asserts authenticity. The critical question is not “Does it have a COA?” but “Who is making the claim, and what are they basing it on?”

In many collecting categories, a COA is simply seller-created paperwork designed to increase buyer confidence. That can be honest or misleading— the paper itself does not tell you which.

2) The only thing a COA can reliably prove is the issuer’s statement

A COA can be meaningful when it functions as a traceable record: it ties an object to a specific person or organization, on a specific date, with identifiable details. But even then, it proves the chain of paperwork more than the underlying history.

What it can do

Record an assertion. “Dealer X sold Item Y on Date Z as authentic,” sometimes with a signature and inventory number.

What it can’t do

Create evidence that doesn’t exist. A COA cannot upgrade an unsupported ship claim into documentation.

3) Why COAs are common in ocean liner collecting

Ocean liner artifacts often circulate with weak or fragmentary documentation. Because famous ship names can multiply prices, paperwork becomes a substitute for evidence—sometimes unintentionally, sometimes strategically.

The risk is highest when a certificate is used to “certify” a ship-specific claim that the object itself cannot support. For that framework, see Why Most Ocean Liner Artifacts Cannot Be Reliably Attributed.

4) A quick classification: three kinds of COAs

Type A

Primary/issuer documentation. From the maker, institution, auction house, or archive, tied to an invoice/lot record and specific identifiers. Useful as part of a paper trail.

Type B

Dealer statement. A reputable seller’s written assertion, ideally with item description, date, and terms. Useful for tracing “who sold what,” but still an opinion unless it cites sources.

Type C

Presentation certificate. Generic language, no identifiers, no source citations, often printable/templated. Usually marketing, not evidence.

5) How to evaluate a COA (the checklist)

Treat a certificate like any other artifact: assess its information density and test whether it connects to verifiable records.

Issuer: Who authored it? Real name, organization, and contact info?
Date: When was it written? Does it align with the sale?
Specificity: Does it describe the exact item (dimensions, marks, photos, inventory/lot number)?
Traceability: Can you match it to an invoice, auction listing, catalog entry, or collection record?
Basis of claim: Does it cite sources (archives, photographs, maker’s records) or just assert certainty?
Scope of claim: Is it claiming “period/line-level” association, or a specific ship? The latter demands far stronger evidence.

Rule of thumb: The more valuable the claim, the more specific the documentation must be. A COA with vague language is not “better than nothing” if it encourages overconfidence.

6) “COA included” is not a substitute for provenance

Provenance is a custody story supported by records. A COA can be one document inside that story, but it is not the story by itself. If the certificate does not connect to earlier documentation, it may only tell you where the item was sold most recently.

If you want the fuller cautionary framework, see Common Problems With “Provenance” in Maritime Collecting and What Counts as Evidence in Ocean Liner Collecting?.

7) How COAs affect value (usually)

In practice, a COA tends to affect value only when it increases buyer confidence and the issuer is trusted and the document is specific. Otherwise, certificates often inflate asking prices without changing realized sale prices.

For the broader valuation model, see How Value Is Determined in Ocean Liner Collecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

⟡ If a reputable dealer provides a COA, is the item authentic?

⟡ It’s a positive signal, but it’s still an assertion. The important question is what evidence the dealer relied on—and whether that evidence is described or traceable.

⟡ Are COAs ever “official” in ocean liner collecting?

⟡ Sometimes, but usually only in the sense of a record from an institution, archive, auction house, or maker-related source—linked to identifiable records. “Official” language alone is not meaningful.

⟡ What’s the biggest red flag on a COA?

⟡ Vague wording paired with absolute certainty—especially about ship-specific claims. If it doesn’t identify the item precisely or explain the basis for the claim, treat it as marketing.

⟡ Should I keep a COA even if I don’t fully trust it?

⟡ Yes—keep it as part of the object’s paper trail, but label it accurately in your records (e.g., “seller statement, no cited sources”) rather than treating it as proof.

⟡ What should I ask a seller who offers a COA?

⟡ Ask what the certificate is based on (records, marks, prior documentation) and whether they can provide invoices, catalog links, or older provenance documents that predate their sale.

Evaluating a specific item? Start with How to Identify Authentic Ocean Liner Memorabilia
For a structured overview of how ocean liner artifacts are evaluated—evidence standards, attribution limits, and common pitfalls—start with Ocean Liner Collecting: A Curated Guide.
What Counts as Evidence in Ocean Liner Collecting?
Common Problems With “Provenance” in Maritime Collecting
Why Most Ocean Liner Artifacts Cannot Be Reliably Attributed
How Value Is Determined in Ocean Liner Collecting
When Evidence Is Limited: Why “Unknown” Is a Responsible Conclusion