Abstract: A system is provided for authenticating products having a paperboard cover or package, such as a record sold in a paperboard record jacket, a tape sold in a paperboard tape box, or a book having a paperboard cover. The cover or package includes a plurality of walls wherein at least one of the walls includes a sheet of paperboard material, with the sheet being formed from a plurality of plies of paperboard material. In addition, at least one of the internal plies of the paperboard sheet is coded, such as by color or phosphorescent material, either continuous or in stripes, to act as an indicator. The coded ply is visible along the edge of the wall of the cover or package to provide a system for authenticating the product.