The Certificate of Authenticity Standard for Fine Art
Structured, verifiable certificates of authenticity — permanently stored, instantly scannable. Built for galleries, collectors, and institutions.
Trusted by galleries and institutions
Works Protected by COA Registry
Every work deserves a permanent record. These are just a few.
Marie Watt, Equinox
2025
Unmanned Islands
2025
Charles Hinman, Sea Shell
1983
Path Paintings #16
2025
Flower Bouquet and Totem
2021
Otis Jones, Black Odd Shape
2016
Freedom 2 to Love
2026
Moris, I Hide My Face
2022
Hover to reveal artwork details
About
We do one thing and we do it well: certificates of authenticity. That's the entire business. Paintings, sculptures, prints. If it has provenance, we document it, all at a fraction of the price of sending traditional certificates.
Paper certificates get lost. Handwritten records fade. COA Registry gives you a permanent, scannable record for every work with ownership transfers and invoice storage built in.
We store these details on a secure network to ensure everything stays accurate, verifiable, and retrievable.
Give every buyer confidence in what they're purchasing.
Sandro Chia, Promenade, 2020
The Problem
Why paper COAs fail
The transfer of a valuable should be trustworthy, but amongst the instruments meant to establish that trust — certificates of authenticity — often don't exist or are unverifiable.
No standard format
Every issuer does it differently. There is no standard format and crucial data is often absent.
Paper gets lost
Physical certificates fade, tear, flood, and burn, and those that endure offer no guarantee against forgery.
Unverifiable provenance
When a work changes hands, its history often cannot be confirmed. That gap creates barriers for buyers, lenders, and insurers — and can depress resale value.
Documentation as an afterthought
COAs are generally issued only when someone asks, often years after the fact. Provenance documentation, coinciding with a transfer of ownership, should be the default.
How It Works
Upload an invoice. Get a certificate.
We handle the data entry. You review, confirm, and the record is permanent from that point forward.
Upload Invoice
You drop in an invoice or PDF and image. We pre-fill the certificate: artwork title, artist, buyer details, dimensions, and edition. You review and confirm in seconds.
Issue & Verify
COA Registry generates a structured digital certificate with a unique permanent COA number. A QR code is created instantly, scannable by phone. No app required. No login required to verify.
Transfer
When the work changes hands, the COA transfers to the new owner. Chain of custody is recorded permanently — every transaction, in sequence.
Anyone can access the digital certificate and confirm its authenticity, but will be unable to ascertain who owns the work.
Who Uses It
Built for the full art ecosystem
Every party in the art market has a stake in provenance. COA Registry serves all of them from a single platform.
Galleries & Publishers
Issue and manage certificates for every work you sell. Maintain a complete provenance record for your artists. Provide buyers with a verifiable document that holds its value.
Collectors
Keep a secure digital record for every piece in your collection. Access your certificates anytime. Transfer ownership with a documented chain of custody when you sell.
Insurers & Lenders
Verify provenance before underwriting or lending against a work. A COA Registry certificate gives you a tamper-resistant, independently verifiable record.
Auction Houses
Have complete ownership history at the point of sale. Reduce time spent on due diligence. Sell with confidence. Buyers bid with confidence.
Services & Pricing
Simple, per-certificate pricing.
Pay only for what you issue. Every certificate includes invoice storage and a permanent, scannable record.
Upload your invoice and we store it permanently with every certificate.
Collectors maintain free access to their records.
Galleries & Collectors
- Single$9
- Five pack$35
- Ten pack$60
- 100 pack$500
Artists & Non-Profit Institutions
- Single$8
- Five pack$25
- Ten pack$45
- 100 pack$400
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions?
Our team reviews every request personally. Reach out and we will respond within one business day.
Now available
Provenance that follows the work.
When a work sells, the certificate goes with it. Every future owner gets the same verified record — no gaps, no ambiguity.
Only verified, authorized issuers can issue certificates on COA Registry.
Marc Straus Gallery in New York is already on COA Registry.
