I understand the "box code" concept. What I need to know is this: Where do I find the box codes to match what a "potential" vendor might send me? Please advise because I am about 48 hours from Mazatlan Mexico. I have samples of all the genuine bands forreference, but it sounds like the codes are the sure-fire way of proving authenticity. Thanks

You gotta be careful when purchasing Cubanos. Real bands, and real boxes does not necesarly mean real cigars, specially in Mexico!! LOL
I would pay attention to the cigar, depending on what you are buying. Look at the box as a whole, are all the cigars the same? Do they all look familiar, look at the caps, are they 3ple, pig tail, etc....
But even then, I have seen some real good counterfits, like I always say, the real test is in the smoking. To be on the safer side anytime you go into a foreign country and try to purchase from the dark side, allways go to an authorized retailer. Stay away from tourist shops, coffe shops and hotel shops, unless ofcoarse this are authorizes Habanos retailer!!

Great Coma, but you didn't tell me where to find the box codes or how to assure authenticity.

1 Pre Revolutionary Years / Cubatabaco / Habanos S.A.
pre-revolutionary boxes were stamped: "MADE IN HAVANA-CUBA"
1961 this stamp was changed to: "HECHO EN CUBA"
1985 Cubatabaco started using date codes
1989 Cubatabaco introduced the stamp: "Totalmente a Mano"
1994 Cubatabaco changed to the Habanos S.A. logo.

2 NIVELACUSO
2.1 Date Code
N I V E L A C U S O
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

2.2 Factory Code
Havana Factories
BM Briones Montoto (Belascoain 852, Havana) - Romeo y Julieta
CB Carlos Balino (San Carlos 816, Havana) - El Rey del Mundo
EH El Habanero
EL El Laguito (2302 Calle 146, Marianao, Havana) - Cohiba
FL/PL/PO Por Larranaga (Carlos III no. 713, Havana)
FPG Francisco Perez German (Industria 520, Havana) - Partagas
FR Miguel Fernandez Roig (Zulueta 106, Havana) - La Corona
HM Heroes de Moncada (13402 Ave. 57, Marianao, Havana) - Jose Peidra
JCS Juan Cano Sainz - Por Larranaga
JM Jose Marti (Amistad 407, Havana) - H. Upmann
LM Las Mambisas (sub contractor only)

Provincial Factories
CFG Cienfuegos
CFGS Cienfuegos (regional facility in Cienfuegos) - Quintero y Hno
FD/PR Francisco Donantien (regional facility in Pinar del Rio)
LV Las Villas
MAM ??? Las Mambisas ???
PR Francisco Donatien (regional facility in Pinar del Rio)
RD Ricardo Donatien (regional facility in Pinar del Rio)
SLR ??? Las Mambisas ???
SS Sancti Spiritus (regional facility in Sancti Spiritus)
TLP Lazaro Pena (group of factories in San Antonio)
TTB Granma (regional facility in Bayamo)
TTH Holguin (regional facility in Holguin) - not a good factory to buy from, bodhank)
VC Villa Clara
VSC Villa Santa Clara (regional facility in Santa Clara)

3 NETAGIDOCU
3.1 Date Code
N E T A G I D O C U
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

3.2 Factory Code
Ciudad de La Habana - Havana
EGD Carlos Baliño - El Rey del Mundo
EDC Briones Montoto - Romeo y Julieta
EUN El Laguito
EAT Francisco Pérez Germán - Partagás
EOG Miguel Fernández Roig - La Corona
ENI Héroes de Moncada
ECA José Martí - H. Upmann
EEO Juan Cano Sainz - Por Larrañaga
Cienfuegos Province
OTC Cienfuegos I
OAI Cienfuegos II
OOG Cruces
OET Cumanayagua
OIN Lajas
Granma Province
NAT Bayamo
NOO Jiguaní
Holguín Province
UNG Antilla
UDI Gibara
UAN Holguín I
UCE Holguín II
UET San Andrés
La Habana Province
TEN Artemisa I
TEC Artemisa II
TND Bejucal
TOU Güines
TAE Güira I
TDC Güira II
TIO Quivicán
TCI San Antonio I
TNG San Antonio II
TGT San Antonio de las Vegas
TUD San Nicolás de Bari
TTA Santa Cruz del Norte
Pinar del Rio Province
GDI Candelaria
GAO Consolación del Sur
GCN Piloto
GNU Pinar del Río
GOC San Juan (Rio Seco)
Sancti-Spíritus Province
CEG Arroyo Blanco
COT Cabaiguán
CGI Fomento
CNE Guayos
CTO Jatibonico
CUN Perea
CID Sancti-Spíritus
CDU Taguasco
CAC Trinidad
CCA Zaza del Medio
Santiago de Cuba Province
AGE Santiago de Cuba
Villa Clara Province
DNU Báez
DDE Camajuaní
DIT Esperanza
DEC Manicaragua
DGC Placetas
DAI Quemado de Güines
DOD Ranchuelo
DCO Remedios
DTA Santa Clara I
DAT Santa Clara II
DNC Santo Domingo
DUN Vueltas

4 Newer Code
?GOO 05/99
EPOO 05/99
ESOO 06/99
EUOO 07/99
EAOO 08/99
EOOO 09/99
LEOO 10/99
LLOO 11/99
LROO 12/99

CCUG 05/99
CCES 06/99
CCEU 07/99
CCAE 08/99
CCNU 10/99
CCNN 11/99
CCNT 12/99

ELOO 01/2000

5 Newest Code
The new codes are a 5 digit alphanumeric. The first 3 digits are alpha and indicate the month. The last two digits are numeric and correspond to the last two digits of the year made. Thus, December 2000 will be DIC00, January 2001 will be ENE01.

5.1 Date Code
January ENE
February FEB
March MAR
April ABR
May MAY
June JUN
July JUL
August AGO
September SET
October OCT
November NOV
December DIC

5.2 Factory Code
ECA / SCo José Martí - H. Upmann
LOME El Laguito
OSU Francisco Perez German - Partagas
PEL Briones Montoto - Romeo y Julieta
SUA La Corona

Muchos Gracias Senor!!

albert slow work day or what???? ...lmao oh and BTW thanks copied and printed 🙂

if you can find a battery powered black light, that would be the way to go! In 2002 Cuba improved the engraving of their export seal, and instituted other, harder to counterfeit measures. Two of these are: An ultra violet (visible only under black light) watermark, one in the center and one to the left that's a duplicate of the seal in regular ink in the center. An utraviolet reactive serial number on the same seal the alphanumeric code is red, under the blacklight, the numbers turn black, and the letters stay red (I may have that reversed)