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Authentication and grading services offer an additional way for buyers and sellers to verify the quality of auction goods. Grading and authentication are typically used for items of high market value, such as rare coins, celebrity autographs, and other rare collectibles.
Third-party expertise, such as grading, authentication, verification, and appraisal services, offer a second opinion on the value of an item.
Here is an overview of these services:
- Grading is used to evaluate the physical condition of an item, from "poor quality" to "mint condition." The actual grading system is dependent on the type of item being graded. For example, trading cards are graded on a scale from A1 to F1, whereas coins are graded from "poor" to "perfect uncirculated."
- Authentication determines whether an item is genuine and described appropriately. Authentication is very difficult because it relies on the expertise of the authenticators. Using their training and experience, experts can often detect counterfeits based on subtle details. Buyers may request a Certificate of Authentication (COA) for autographs and celebrity collectibles.
- Verification is a way of confirming the identity and evaluating the condition of an item. Third parties use a variety of means to evaluate and identify an item. For example, some collectors have their item DNA-tagged for identification purposes. This provides a way of tracking an item if it changes ownership in the future.
Here are some well-known authentication services:
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