Lucky Erin is the special Erin given to recently hired Ty employees in 1998 who did not receive a #1 Bear. It has green plush and an embroidered white shamrock, with a brown nose and white neck ribbon distinguishing it from the familiar retail Erin.
Its original hang tag is signed by Ty Warner. The release is recorded as December 12, 1998, with style number 4186, a fifth-generation hang tag and a sixth-generation tush tag.
For identification, look at the nose, ribbon and signed tag together. A changed ribbon alone does not identify Lucky Erin. Keep any employee provenance or authentication paperwork with the bear, since its limited distribution is an important part of its history.
