The problem with paper COAs
A certificate of authenticity is only as trustworthy as whoever printed it — and it is easily separated from the item. Collectors increasingly expect evidence they can check themselves, on the spot.
Capturing provenance at the moment of signing
The strongest records are created live: a tag is applied at the signing or match, and photos, video, location and witness details are added to the item's digital identity immediately. Every later sale is appended to that same record.
Good uses
- Signed shirts, balls, bats, gloves and boots
- Match-worn and player-issued kit
- Tickets, programmes and trophies
- Music and film memorabilia — guitars, costumes, props
Clubs, players and authenticators
Teams and athletes can issue officially tagged items directly to fans, creating a primary-market record that suppresses counterfeits. Authenticators can attach their opinion to the item itself rather than a loose letter. SmartLinks supports issuing these identities at scale.
Choosing hardware? Read our QR vs NFC comparison or the step-by-step tagging guide.