How to Obtain a Certificate of Authenticity for a Coin

Know How to Obtain a Certificate of Authenticity for a Coin

• 1

  Find a reputable coin dealer. Dealers can tell you if your coin is genuine and will sometimes offer a certificate of authenticity. You can find a list of dealers approved by the American Numismatic Association at their website (see Resources below). This organization is one of the most respected coin collecting bodies in North America and only lists dealers on their site who have proven track records of honesty and integrity.

• 2

  Submit your coin to an authentication service. You can find a listing of coin authentication services online at Coin Club.com (see Resources below). Any of these businesses will be happy (for a fee) to tell you if your coin is the real thing. A few of them offer an official certificate of authenticity if you ask for it.

• 3

  Buy directly from a coin mint. While the coins you get from a mint are brand new and therefore not very valuable, they will usually come with a certificate of authenticity. If you save this certificate, it will verify the coin's authenticity to future generations.

• 4

  Go to a coin show. Some coin shows have coin graders on hand for those who are curious about their coins. Look in your local newspaper to find upcoming coin shows near you. Then, bring your coins for authentication and ask the graders if you can obtain a certificate of authenticity from them.

• 5

  Ask for your money back if you find your coin is a fake. Dealers and authentication services will not give you a certificate of authenticity if they determine your coin is a forgery. However, any honest dealer should return your money if you present him or her with proof that your coin is not genuine.