This is the complete Zippo date code reference. Every coding system from the 1933 patent stamps through the modern letter/number format. Bookmark this page — you'll use it every time you pick up an unfamiliar lighter.
For a full explanation of how to read each system, see our Zippo bottom stamp reading guide. This page is the reference chart.
Patent Era (1933–1957)
| Stamp text | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PAT. PEND. / PAT PENDING | 1933–1936 | Rarest Zippos. High collector value. |
| PAT. 2032695 | 1937–1950 | Includes WWII steel-case period 1942–45 |
| PAT. 2517191 | 1950–1957 | Post-war chrome era begins |
Dot Era (1958–1965)
Dots appear on left and right of the word "ZIPPO" on the base. Count dots on each side.
| Left dots | Right dots | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1958 |
| 1 | 0 | 1959 |
| 1 | 1 | 1960 |
| 2 | 1 | 1961 |
| 2 | 2 | 1962 |
| 3 | 2 | 1963 |
| 3 | 3 | 1964 |
| 4 | 3 | 1965 |
Slash Era (1966–1973)
Slashes replace dots. Same left/right counting system.
| Left slashes | Right slashes | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1966 |
| 1 | 1 | 1967 |
| 2 | 1 | 1968 |
| 2 | 2 | 1969 |
| 3 | 2 | 1970 |
| 3 | 3 | 1971 |
| 4 | 3 | 1972 |
| 4 | 4 | 1973 |
Roman Numeral Era (1974–1985)
| Stamp | Year |
|---|---|
| I | 1974 |
| II | 1975 |
| III | 1976 |
| IV | 1977 |
| V | 1978 |
| VI | 1979 |
| VII | 1980 |
| VIII | 1981 |
| IX | 1982 |
| X | 1983 |
| XI | 1984 |
| XII | 1985 |
Modern Letter/Number System (1986–Present)
Format: Letter (month) + two-digit year. Example: G 88 = July 1988.
| Letter | Month |
|---|---|
| A | January |
| B | February |
| C | March |
| D | April |
| E | May |
| F | June |
| G | July |
| H | August |
| I | September |
| J | October |
| K | November |
| L | December |
Common examples
| Stamp | Date |
|---|---|
| A 86 | January 1986 |
| G 88 | July 1988 |
| L 93 | December 1993 |
| D 99 | April 1999 |
| B 05 | February 2005 |
| J 12 | October 2012 |
| E 24 | May 2024 |
Can't Read Your Stamp?
If the stamp is worn, FlameVault's scan tool can help. Photograph the bottom stamp in raking light (torch held at a very shallow angle), upload it alongside the front face, and the AI will attempt to decode it. If it's too worn to read from the photo, use the manual stamp entry — type in whatever characters you can make out and the tool will cross-reference with the visual characteristics to narrow the date range.