A more thorough explanation:

A certificate of prothonotary is a type of certificate of authority. It is a document that authenticates a notarized document that is being sent to another jurisdiction. This certificate assures the out-of-state or foreign recipient that the notary public has a valid commission.

For example, if someone needs to send a notarized document from one state to another, they may need a certificate of prothonotary to ensure that the notary public who notarized the document is authorized to do so in their state.

Another example of a certificate of authority is a document issued by a state agency, usually the secretary of state, granting an out-of-state corporation the right to do business in the state. This certificate of authority assures the state that the corporation is authorized to do business in their state.

Overall, a certificate of prothonotary is a type of certificate of authority that ensures the validity and authorization of a notarized document being sent to another jurisdiction.