IN THE LATE 1990'S THE COACH CORPORATION MADE A DECISION TO STOP PLACING A UNIQUE NUMBER (A SERIAL NUMBER) ON EACH HANDBAG THEY PRODUCED.

WHAT THEY DECIDED INSTEAD WAS TO MAKE A UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STYLE OF HANDBAG.

THAT IS, EVERY HANDBAG WITHIN A SPECIFIC STYLE NUMBER HAS THE SAME NUMBER (NOT TECHNICALLY CALLED A "SERIAL NUMBER").

THIS  EMBOSSED NUMBER IS UNIQUE TO THE STYLE, NOT THE BAG, THUS NOT A SERIAL NUMBER & IT IS EMBOSSED (PRESSED INTO THE LEATHER) ON THE BOTTOM OF THE "CREED" WHICH IS SEWN ON THE INSIDE OF THE BAG (SEE PHOTO ABOVE).

THIS EMBOSSED NUMBER HAS THE ACTUAL STYLE NUMBER AS THE ENDING DIGITS AFTER A DASH.

POUCHES, SWING PACKS, AND ALL SMALL LEATHER GOODS LIKE WALLETS DO NOT HAVE ANY NUMBER EMBOSSED ANYWHERE ON THE ITEM.

SOME FAKE COACH BAGS HAVE PHONY NUMBERS PRINTED ON A SEWN IN LEATHER CREED. SO BEWARE!