Michigan Badger
Gold Member
What's In A Certificate of Authenticity? COA
Over the years I've bought and sold many Spanish coins and cobs.
Most of these came with no COA.
One of the first things I get asked whenever offering a cob or other shipwreck item is "Does it come with a COA?"
I try to explain to people that in some situations there were no COAs made. Most people turn away when they find out the item is accompanied with no piece of paper.
I usually ask such persons this question: "If I give you a piece of paper, how would you know it really means anything?" They usually say something like: "Well, I could use it to check on the item." To this reply I respond with: Check with whom?
Most COAs don't even have a picture of the item on them! How in the world is a COA like that worth anything special? One can buy those forms by the hundreds and print them on any inkjet.
I've owned and sold a genuine Mel Fisher Atocha cob complete with its photo COA. Those are impressive but if you get a low grade mega shiny cob for under $300 you really got a deal. I know for a fact that many genuine Atocha cobs have no COA. Many were brought up by early divers some no doubt long before the final "big pile" Fisher discovery.
I'd love to see all future wrecks carefully documented with photo COAs and all this info kept on computers. But in the past, millions of equally genuine shipwreck items were found and most have no real COA. Basically what you have is the word of the person who recovered said item. And when you really think about it--that's all one really has with any COA no matter how it may have been done.
Who knows if that cob really came from that wreck? Only the person who originally discovered it. Sellers of shipwreck items can easily "salt" their store of retail shipwreck items. COAs are easy to make.
Personally I look for real treasure hunters whom I know are really hunting (and finding) real treasure. Some times I get my shipwreck items totally ocean encrusted. To me this is 10 times more impressive than a sheet of paper from someone I don't know.
And too, most shipwreck divers/beach hunters today aren't going to make COAs for a whole lot of reasons I think the reader can figure out on his own.
Faith in your supplier is what's most important and that along with the known facts concerning the found item (design, weight, etc.) make for a secure purchase.
Have a nice day.
Badger
Over the years I've bought and sold many Spanish coins and cobs.
Most of these came with no COA.
One of the first things I get asked whenever offering a cob or other shipwreck item is "Does it come with a COA?"
I try to explain to people that in some situations there were no COAs made. Most people turn away when they find out the item is accompanied with no piece of paper.
I usually ask such persons this question: "If I give you a piece of paper, how would you know it really means anything?" They usually say something like: "Well, I could use it to check on the item." To this reply I respond with: Check with whom?
Most COAs don't even have a picture of the item on them! How in the world is a COA like that worth anything special? One can buy those forms by the hundreds and print them on any inkjet.
I've owned and sold a genuine Mel Fisher Atocha cob complete with its photo COA. Those are impressive but if you get a low grade mega shiny cob for under $300 you really got a deal. I know for a fact that many genuine Atocha cobs have no COA. Many were brought up by early divers some no doubt long before the final "big pile" Fisher discovery.
I'd love to see all future wrecks carefully documented with photo COAs and all this info kept on computers. But in the past, millions of equally genuine shipwreck items were found and most have no real COA. Basically what you have is the word of the person who recovered said item. And when you really think about it--that's all one really has with any COA no matter how it may have been done.
Who knows if that cob really came from that wreck? Only the person who originally discovered it. Sellers of shipwreck items can easily "salt" their store of retail shipwreck items. COAs are easy to make.
Personally I look for real treasure hunters whom I know are really hunting (and finding) real treasure. Some times I get my shipwreck items totally ocean encrusted. To me this is 10 times more impressive than a sheet of paper from someone I don't know.
And too, most shipwreck divers/beach hunters today aren't going to make COAs for a whole lot of reasons I think the reader can figure out on his own.
Faith in your supplier is what's most important and that along with the known facts concerning the found item (design, weight, etc.) make for a secure purchase.
Have a nice day.
Badger
