Abstract: A coding assembly specifically designed to encode in a non-obtrusive manner, contained packages disposed on the interior of a shipping or storage carton through the utilization of strategically placed pairs of penetrating pins of sufficient length and sharpness to pass through the outer shipping carton and into the plurality of packages contained therein. Relative positions of the pins of a plurality of pin pairs will define the position of the puncture aperture in the respective packages and in turn define one of a plurality of predetermined codes. A clear material template is disposed in overlying relation to the puncture apertures for purposes of decoding.