Authentic vs fake: A history of the Coach creed and serial #'s.

Margo · June 21st, 2007, 01:20 PM

Hi there, There is some misinformation in the ebelle guide "How to spot a fake Coach bag" about some of the creeds and serial numbers. I have emailed Jennifer to let her know and I am posting the history of Coach creeds and serial #'s, for any person who is interested in older Coach bags and vintage Coach bags manufactured before the 1990s.

HISTORY OF COACH CREEDS & SERIAL NUMBERS.

The second and third photo of the creeds/serial #’s in the ebelle Coach guide which are labeled as fake are genuine pre-90s creeds/serial #’s.

In the 1960's Coach bags had either a metal identifier tag, or simple impression of the Coach logo, no creed no serial #'s.

Coach introduced the creed without any serial # sometime in the late 60's/early70s. The word "leatherwear" is under the word Coach and the wording of the creed at this time was all caps "THIS IS A COACH BAG. IT IS MADE OUT OF A COMPLETELY NATURAL GLOVE TANNED COWHIDE. THE SCARS, SCRATCHES, VEINS AND WRINKLES ARE NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FULL GRAIN LEATHERS". Under the creed is in all caps, "MADE IN NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A." ALL Coach bags made after the introduction of the creed and before serial #'s were introduced were made in NYC. Note that there are gaps in the creed in the lines describing the "scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles"

When Coach added serial numbers to the creed in the 1970's they were "all numbers" in the format "xxx-xxxx" as shown in the second photo in the ebelle list. The last four digits do not correspond to the style number, each bag had a unique number. The particular bag shown in photo 2 on the list was made in New York City. Coach ceased making bags in NYC in the mid 70's before there was such a thing as fakes or knock offs. NYC bags are vintage and rare.

This serial number format (all numbers, xxx-xxxx) is also on bags made in the United states, after Coach began manufacturing bags in multiple locations in the USA rather than NYC (sometime in the mid to late 70s). The wording of the creed is the same, except on the bottom it will say 'MADE IN THE UNITED STATES" OR "MADE IN U.S.A." Again the last four digits are not the style number, and the serial #’s were unique to each bag. There are a few styles with "MADE IN U.S.A" that have 8 in the serial number - all numbers, no dash, just a continuous string.

In the 1980's Coach changed the serial numbers to "all numbers" in the format xxxx-xxx. An example of this in the third photo in the ebelle guide. The last three numbers do not relate to the style number, again the serial #’s were apparently unique to each bag.

It was not until the 1990's that Coach introduced the modern registration format of letters and numbers, with the last four digits being the style number (or in the case of some of the newer bags after 2000, the last five digits). These registration numbers are not unique to each bag. The wording of the creed was also changed to all caps "THIS IS A COACH BAG. IT WAS HANDCRAFTED IN (country of origin) OF COMPLETELY NATURAL GLOVE-TANNED COWHIDE. THE VARIATIONS IN THE GRAIN ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF NATURAL FULL GRAIN LEATHER." There are no longer gaps between any of the words.

At the present time any one who reads the ebelle review here will think any bag for sale on an online auction site which was made pre 1990s and has the old serial number format, is fake, even the rare, vintage, made in New York City Bonnie Cashin designs. Hopefully Jennifer will get a chance to update the review soon.

If you would like photos of the 60's metal tag or impressed logo, or any of the pre-90s creeds and serial #'s please contact me. I would also be happy to share photos of knock-offs of Coach leather bags, including the classics, which are based on the bags from this pre-90s era, including photos of fake creeds and serial #’s.

I this post helps Coach classics and vintage bag collectors.

Jennifer · June 21st, 2007, 02:45 PM

thank you for the information margo

evelyn · September 28th, 2007, 11:15 AM

hi, i'm new here. i have purchased 2 coach handbags for $1 each at yard sales. they each have serial numbers inside them is there a website i can go to to match the look of the bag to the serial number? the serial numbers are No J4K-9311 and No-BOD-9812 thanks for any help you can offer me. evelyn :-)

boysRsmelly · September 28th, 2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

hi, i'm new here. i have purchased 2 coach handbags for $1 each at yard sales. they each have serial numbers inside them is there a website i can go to to match the look of the bag to the serial number? the serial numbers are No J4K-9311 and No-BOD-9812 thanks for any help you can offer me. evelyn :-)

Style #9311 looks like this:

And style #9812 looks like this:

I pulled these up from Coach's DD.

pugsandchickens · September 29th, 2007, 05:54 PM

I got a coach bag from a yard sale today and the serial number reads - C05M-8F34. What does this bag look like, anybody know? I can include pics if you'd need them....

boysRsmelly · September 29th, 2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pugsandchickens

I got a coach bag from a yard sale today and the serial number reads - C05M-8F34. What does this bag look like, anybody know? I can include pics if you'd need them....

The number belongs to a scarf print tote.

pugsandchickens · September 30th, 2007, 03:37 AM

great! best $5 I ever wasted!

annasense · November 2nd, 2007, 01:13 AM

Hi! I have a Coach with a serial number C05S-8A05. Can you tell me what they call this style, if you know? I see all these names like "Chelsea" this and "Signature" that, but I don't know what mine is called. Thanks!

boysRsmelly · November 2nd, 2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annasense

Hi! I have a Coach with a serial number C05S-8A05. Can you tell me what they call this style, if you know? I see all these names like "Chelsea" this and "Signature" that, but I don't know what mine is called. Thanks!

That number belongs to a leather Soho Flap. You see those at outlets mostly.

dogger · November 2nd, 2007, 08:50 PM

Is This a real Coach E8I-6214 or 6244

Any Help?

Thanks

boysRsmelly · November 3rd, 2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogger

Is This a real Coach E8I-6214 or 6244

Any Help?

Thanks

Well, the creed patch you have there looks kinda weird. I can't really make out all of the words, but it doesn't look like it follows the traditional creed format.

#6214 doesn't come up and #6244 belongs to a large briefcase/tote type bag that looks really plain.
Here's a pic:

clover6975 · November 7th, 2007, 07:48 AM

Big thank-you for the most informative thread !!! I was lucky enough to get an authentic coach classic E1P-9870 ( black with brass ). It's in great condition for being 16 years old. Got a great deal on a little faith and attention to ( educated ) detail. The strap was the original , not the one one described in the auction, ( which allowed me a return exception, upon contact with seller ). I did discover the authenticity( the key chain was fake ) before deciding to keep the bag, or return for full refund !!! Not bad for my 1st coach bag !

scraggletoe · November 12th, 2007, 09:19 PM

Hello! I bought a Coach bag today at a second hand store and I'm curious if anybody can tell me if it's real or from what decade. From the info in the original post I'm guessing the 80's. It has the creed on it and the serial code is 0997 237. Thanks for the help.

skyhoneybear · November 18th, 2007, 06:19 AM

Good Morning all. I am new to the board and would like to ask if you all can help me authenticate my Coach purse.

I received as a gift 3 years back from someone cleaning out their closet (No shame in a free purse). This is my only coach bag. It is a Brown Leather Bucket style with Brown handle straps that form a Upside down Large U. It has a matching brown hanging coach tab with Coach on both sides and feels raised. Using the information from Margo I believe it is a 1990s style because the Creed matches the description she stated on the inside Leather flap pocket. Here is the Serial number P7B-4907. Sorry I don't have a pic, but my digital camera is MIA (we just moved). I know that I am a newbie, but would appreciate any help. I haven't been able to find any pics and would like to register my coach purse.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Thanksgiving Holiday!

Here is a picture of the Creed Pocket I took with my cell phone. Its' not the best, but maybe it will help.

boysRsmelly · November 18th, 2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyhoneybear

Good Morning all. I am new to the board and would like to ask if you all can help me authenticate my Coach purse.

I received as a gift 3 years back from someone cleaning out their closet (No shame in a free purse). This is my only coach bag. It is a Brown Leather Bucket style with Brown handle straps that form a Upside down Large U. It has a matching brown hanging coach tab with Coach on both sides and feels raised. Using the information from Margo I believe it is a 1990s style because the Creed matches the description she stated on the inside Leather flap pocket. Here is the Serial number P7B-4907. Sorry I don't have a pic, but my digital camera is MIA (we just moved). I know that I am a newbie, but would appreciate any help. I haven't been able to find any pics and would like to register my coach purse.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Thanksgiving Holiday!

Here is a picture of the Creed Pocket I took with my cell phone. Its' not the best, but maybe it will help.

That style number belongs to a Sonoma Bucket. What kind of lining does the bag have? It should be a black striped fabric.