Three Things To Know About Certificates Of Authenticity
Posted on: 28 June 2019
When you take certain types of items to sell at your local pawn shop, having a certificate of authenticity (COA) can be an asset. COAs aren't necessary or appropriate for every item, but if you have something that has been autographed by a noteworthy person, or have an item of historical significance, a certificate of authenticity that verifies the item will help you not only to sell it, but also to get more money for it. Here are three things for you to know about these documents.
Anyone Can Make One
One of the mistakes that people can make when showing their COA to a pawn shop staff member is assuming that the presence of this document immediately improves the validity of their item. While it's true that COAs can help, you must also know that anyone can make one of these documents. For example, an average person could type out the wording for the certificate, print it on his or her home printer, and then put it in a frame or laminate it. The pawn shop employee will know whether a particular COA carries any weight in the industry, and this can affect the pawn shop's interest in your item.
COAs From Certain Organizations Carry More Weight
When it comes to verifying the authenticity of autographs, there are a few companies that are industry leaders. They employ autograph experts who use a variety of tools to assess whether an autograph is legitimate. If you have a COA for your item from one of these highly reputable organizations, the pawn shop will be more likely to deal with you. Certain other types of organizations issue COAs, too. For example, if you've acquired an artifact from a museum, the museum itself may have issued the COA — and because the museum is a reputable organization, this can help you to sell your item.
Not Having One Doesn't Necessarily Mean You Can't Sell
When you take an item that is signed or that has a historical significance to your local pawn shop, one of the first things that a staff member will ask you is whether you have a COA. If you don't, it doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be able to sell your item. There are other things that can support your claim of the validity of the item. For example, if you have a photo of an athlete or a celebrity signing your item, and the photo is clear and leaves no doubt that the autograph is legitimate, this can often be as effective as a COA.
For more information about selling or buying at a pawn shop, visit a site like https://www.mainepawn.net/.
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