How Certificates of Authenticity Work
A certificate of authenticity is a small document with a big job: proving a piece is what it claims to be. Here's what makes one trustworthy — and what makes one worthless.
What a good certificate contains
A certificate of authenticity (COA) is a record vouching for a work's genuineness. A useful one includes:
- The work's identity — artist or maker, title, medium, and for editions the edition number and total run.
- A unique identifier — a serial number that ties the certificate to that specific piece or slab.
- The issuer — who stands behind it, since a COA is only as credible as its source.
- Provenance — ideally a record of ownership that can be updated over time.
A COA with none of these — a generic "this is authentic" slip anyone could print — adds little.
Paper vs digital certificates
Traditional paper COAs have a weakness: they can be lost, forged, or separated from the work. A digital certificate solves much of this by binding the record to a unique serial, keeping it verifiable online, and — importantly — letting it travel with the piece as ownership changes. Instead of a slip in a drawer, the certificate is a living record any future buyer can check.
Why it protects both sides
For buyers, a verifiable certificate removes the central risk of collecting: paying for something that isn't what it claims. For sellers, it does the opposite job — it lets you command the price your work deserves, because the buyer's doubt is answered before they bid. On The Bubble Art this takes the form of the Digital Passport: every artwork and every graded card ships with one, recording origin, edition or grade, and an ownership history that transfers on resale.
Frequently asked questions
What should a certificate of authenticity include?
The work's identity (artist, title, edition), a unique serial number, the credible issuer standing behind it, and ideally a provenance/ownership record that can be updated.
Are digital certificates better than paper ones?
They're harder to lose or separate from the work, verifiable online, and can travel with the piece on resale — solving the main weaknesses of paper COAs.
Does every item on The Bubble Art include one?
Yes — every artwork and every graded card ships with a Digital Passport recording origin, edition or grade, and an ownership history that transfers to each new owner.
Related: Digital art certificate of authenticity · What is provenance in art? · Why authenticity matters in collectibles · Passport