Historical Factoids
- pre-revolutionary boxes were stamped: "MADE IN HAVANA-CUBA"
- 1961 this stamp was changed to: "HECHO EN CUBA"
- 1985 Cubatabaco started using date codes
- 1985-1995 a tobacco leaf (iron) is above Cubatobacco
- 1989 Cubatabaco introduced the stamp: "Totalmente a Mano"
- 1994 Cubatabaco changed to the Habanos S.A. logo
- Factory codes may be encased in a rectangle (stamp) seen predominantly until 1999
- Typically varnished boxes that come with a carboard outer box have the warranty seal and code on the cardboard. It can also be on the actual box itself as well
Definitions
Box Code: A code stamped in ink of varying colour on the bottom of the box that identifies the date and factory of production
Irons: The standard marks on the bottom of a box of Habanos. E.g. the words "Habanos SA" over an oval containing the words "Hecho en Cuba" over the scrpit "Totalmente a mano." All of these are "branded" into the bottom of the box by pressing a heated iron against the wood. Hence the term "irons" is used to describe these marks.Original Cuban Box Codes
Starting in 1985, Cubatabaco started using box codes as a way of identifying where and when any given box of cigars was produced. These codes are typically found stamped on the bottom of the box. They were never intended to be known by the consumer.
The original box codes identified the date using the NIVELACUSO scheme. Each number is signified by a letter, as follows:
| N | I | V | E | L | A | C | U | S | O |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
The code signifies the month and year of manufacture. For example, the code NNSU would translate to 1198, which translates to November 1998. Similarly, OESC would translate as 0497, or April 1997. Under the NIVELACUSO scheme, the month is not always signified by two numbers. Hence, a code of CSC would translate to 797, or July 1997.
1999 Cuban box codes
The original NIVELACUSO code was broken in 1997, thus rendering obsolete the objective of the code to prevent buyers from selectively purchasing cigars by factory. The penchant for seeking out Havana factory codes stemmed from the idea that some factories got the better raw materials. This is difficult to argue with those that have actual experience; Habanos S.A. would never admit as much. Allocations to factories is closely monitored now, hence less perceived discrepancy between factories.
Thus in 1999 the box codes were reworked to a different scheme. The date code was changed to the NETAGIDOCU scheme and the factory codes were redefined to all use 3 letter codes. The NETAGIDOCU scheme specifies the date that cigars were boxed, and is translated into numbers in the same manner as the earlier (NIVELACUSO) scheme. Together with the 3-letter factory code, the 4-digit NETAGIDOCU scheme designates the specific date and factory of origin for each box of Cuban cigars. For example, a box of Partagas Serie D No. 4 cigars boxed at the Partagas factory in March 1999 would have a box code EAT CCUT. (CCUT = 9903)
1999 Date Codes
| First 1999 date code | |||||||||
| N | E | T | A | G | I | D | O | C | U |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| Date Codes starting 5/99 | |||||||||
| ?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 | ||||||||
Original Factory Codes
| 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) |
1999 Factory Codes
| 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 |
Code since 2000
In 2000 Habanos SA changed the code yet again. The new code uses a 5 digit alphanumeric sequence to define the date. 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.
2000 Date Code
| ENE | January |
| FEB | February |
| MAR | March |
| ABR | April |
| MAY | May |
| JUN | June |
| JUL | July |
| AGO | August |
| SET | September |
| OCT | October |
| NOV | November |
| DIC | December |
2000 Factory Code
| Factories Code | |
| EOG, EAR | La Corona |
| ECA | H.Upmann |
| RPO | H. Del Moncada |
| OSU | Partazas |
| PEL | Briones ( Romeo Juliet) |
| CLE | EL Laguito ( Cohiba ) |
| ARA | J. Cano |
| LRL, SLA | Pinar Del Rio |
| PUL, URE, UPA, IESC | Holguin |
| URL, LES, SUA,CPV, RSE, PUC | Villa Clara |
| VCR, DUO, REC, PAS, USP, APE, LUL, CLO, SRA,OVU | S. Espiritus |
| CAV,ALV,SSU,VEL,SOL, PAR, SCO, LPE | La Habana |
| EOP, LAC, SEL, PUV | Cienfuergos |
| ACS, PLO | Granma |
| OLA | S de Cuba |
| LOC | Carlos Balino(Rey Del Mundo) |
| 2000-2003 Box codes with a little more detail | |
| LOC | Carlos Balino ( Rey Del Mundo) |
| EOG, EAR | La Corona (note that SUA was used in 2000 according to one source) |
| ECA | H.Upmann |
| RPO | H. Del Moncada |
| OSU | Partagas |
| PEL | Briones ( Romeo Juliet) |
| 2000 - LOME, LQME 2001 - CLE | EL Laguito ( Cohiba ) |
| ARA | J. Cano |
| LRL, SLA | Pinar Del Rio |
| PUL, URE, UPA, IESC | Holguin |
| URL, LES, SUA, CPV, RSE, PUC | Villa Clara |
| VCR, DUO, REC, PAS, USP, APE, LUL, CLO, SRA, OVU | S. Espiritus |
| CAV, ALV, SSU, VEL, SOL, PAR, SCO, LPE | La Habana |
| EOP, LAC, SEL, PUV | Cienfuergos |
| ACS, PLO | Granma |
| OLA | S de Cuba |
New factory codes in 2003
Once again Habanos S.A. has changed factory codes. Starting in May 2003 several new codes have appeared. While we are still seeing quite a few codes from the 2000 list above, so far we have been able to decipher a few of the new ones.
| Known 2003 Box codes | |
| GKI | Francisco Pérez Germán (Partagás) |
| LLN | José Martí (H. Upmann) |
| KMM | Briones Montoto (Romeo y Julieta) |
| MKO | El Laguito (Cohiba) |
| FRH | Miguel Fernandez Roig (La Corona) |
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