An authentication and/or tracking system for identifying, tracking, authenticating and/or otherwise checking the legitimacy of one or more items which include a coded identity tag or mark, the system comprising identification means for reading said coded identity tag or mark and identifying said one or more items, storage means for storing information relating to the location, whether actual or intended, origin and/or ownership of said one or more items, and means for displaying or otherwise providing or verifying said information relating to an item when its identity tag or mark has been read.