The method for protecting the authenticity of an article from imitation and counterfeit is characterized by the following. During the packaging process, a container label is affixed to the article, which container label comprises a national bank note having a serial number which is encoded with the aid of a cryptographic algorithm and is shown on the outer surface of the label as a verification code, which is decoded with the aid of cryptographic keys. The verification code is represented in the form of alphanumeric information or in the form of a two-dimensional QR barcode, wherein more than one verification code can be shown on the outer surface of the label.