What's the relationship between gnosticism and the Coptic Christians?

Is it just my imagination, or is there a link?

yes

This is a site for Oriental Orthodox Christians, and that includes Coptic Christians. Maybe you could post a question and ask them...

http://foru.ms/f449-the-voice-in-the-desert-oriental-orthodox.html

Gnosis is Greek for knowledge. Coptic Christians held the knowledge (words of God) in works such as the Gospel of Thomas could help a soul achieve salvation.

There is another type of Gnostism that originated before Christ, possibly Persian, Egyptian or Syrian in orig en.

The only link is Egypt. Coptic is Egyptian Orthodox, and the gnostic center was in Alexandria (the mainstream Christian center was in Rome). Even though Coptic Christianity (or any Christianity) and gnosticism share a few principals, they are radically different.

Many of the great Gnostic's and great Sufis knew beforehand of the coming of Jesus (PBUH) and blended into the Christian tradition and culture because this was considered a safe haven in those perilous times. Most all of the Gnostic's were from Egypt, and the majority of the Sufis were from Persia!

These were men and women of great "Wisdom".

Aquila is correct, and I don't know why Aquila got a thumbs down. Gnostic texts were found in Egypt, but there is no connexion between the historical movement of Gnosticism and that of Coptic Christianity. Coptic Christianity battled Gnosticism just as much as Orthodox and Western Christianity did. By the time Coptic Christianity was isolated from the rest of Christianity (due first to non-acceptance of Councils, and then the invasion of Islam), Gnosticism was dead. The sense of 'exoticism' that one experiences at a Coptic service is similar to that of any Arab Byzantine service, and any particular Coptic customs are national, not gnostic. have a great day!

All these answers here pretty much cover it.
There are a few Gnostic scriptures that are Aramaic just like the rest of the New Testament, but a large portion of Gnostic Gospels are in Coptic meaning they had no chance whatsoever of being included in the Bible.