Use this Grad Authentication lookup to verify a letter or witness certificate issued by Grad Collection, the authentication service of autograph expert Steve Grad. Enter the GA certificate number from the letter, or the GW number from a witnessed item, together with the signer name. CheckCOA checks the record with Grad, shows the letter as an image with a PDF download, and screens the number against our Fraud Base of known fake, stolen, reused or compromised certificates. CheckCOA is independent and not the official Grad Authentication site.
Checking more than Grad? CheckCOA also verifies PSA/DNA, Beckett BAS, JSA, Fanatics, Panini, SGC Authentic and 20+ more autograph providers in one place.
Enter the certificate number (for example GA-07654 or GW 05001) and the signer name. Any part of the name works, such as a last name or a band name.
Grad Authentication is the autograph authentication service of Grad Collection, run by Steve Grad. His letters describe him as a former lead authenticator for PSA/DNA and Beckett Authentication and as the autograph expert on History Channel's Pawn Stars since 2013. Each letter carries a GA certificate number, a submission reference, the item description, the signer and the verdict.
Grad only returns a record when the certificate number and the signer name match. You do not need the exact spelling. Any part of the name is enough, so a last name, a first name or a band name works. That also covers items with several signers and names with apostrophes or accents: type the simplest part you are sure of.
Type the last name, for example Jackson for Michael Jackson.
Type the band or team name, for example Slipknot for a CD signed by all members.
Skip the apostrophe or accent and use a part of the name you are sure of.
GA numbers belong to letters: Letters of Verification, Letters of Appraisal and Letters of Rejection. GW numbers belong to the witness program, where the signing is observed and the item is labelled. Enter the number with its prefix when you have it. If you only type the digits, CheckCOA checks the GA letters first and then the GW witness records.
A letter number. The result shows the letter as an image and offers the PDF.
A witness number. The result shows the signers, the event and the item photos.
A Letter of Rejection is shown in red. It means Grad judged the item likely not genuine.
The official Grad page confirms that a letter exists. CheckCOA adds the letter image and PDF to your History, and screens every number against reported fake, copied and reused certificates.
A letter is tied to one item. A genuine letter number can still be copied into a listing for a different item, and a letter image can be edited. Compare the returned record with the item in front of you.
A clean result is not a guarantee of authenticity. Always compare the signature, the item, the letter and the seller history before buying.
Enter the GA or GW number and the signer name, see the letter, and screen it with free Fraud Alert protection.
Use these practical checks to choose the right lookup, read the result and decide when the item needs closer review.
Enter the GA certificate number printed on the letter, for example GA-07654, and the signer name. Any part of the name is enough. CheckCOA checks the record with Grad Authentication and shows the letter with a PDF download.
Grad only returns a record when the number and the signer match. This stops anyone from browsing letters by number alone. A last name, a first name or a band name is enough, and capital letters do not matter.
Type any one of the names, or the band or team name. For example, Slipknot or Corey Taylor both find a CD signed by the whole band.
GA numbers are on letters: Letters of Verification, Letters of Appraisal and Letters of Rejection. GW numbers belong to Grad's witness program, where the signing is observed. Both can be checked here.
It means Grad examined the item and judged it likely not genuine. The record is real, but it is a negative verdict, so CheckCOA shows it in red. Do not buy an item on the strength of a rejection letter.
Usually the signer name does not match the record, or a digit in the number is wrong. Try only the last name, check the GA or GW prefix, and compare the number with a sharp photo of the letter. A failed match is not charged.
Yes. For GA letters the result shows the letter as an image and has a Download Certificate PDF button. The PDF is the official letter issued by Grad Authentication.
No. CheckCOA is an independent verification tool. It checks provider records when available, keeps your checks across 25+ providers in one place, and adds Fraud Alert checks against known fake, stolen, reused or compromised numbers.
Yes. Every Grad Authentication lookup is screened against CheckCOA's Fraud Alert database of 25,000+ known fake, stolen, reused and compromised certificate records. This helps flag known fake COAs, counterfeit slabs, reused serial numbers and other reported risk signals, but it does not replace expert authentication.
All-in-one cert lookup across PSA, Beckett, CGC, Upper Deck, BGS and 20+ more. Every scan is auto-checked against our growing Fraud Alert database - 25,000+ known fake, stolen, reused & compromised certificates.