posted 11-30-2004 11:54 PM            

A couple of articles are listed below that I came across using the new Google Scholar search engine. The second article was more interesting to me as it discusses the advent of forgeries starting around 1850 and a method of revealing these fakes. The first article, as I understand it, discusses a process that shows promise but still needs study.

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Imaging of Worn-Off Hallmarks on Silver: Preliminary Results
Paul L. Benson and Robert S. Gilmore

posted 12-01-2004 08:32 AM            

I can recommend two additional ways:

1. Cool the object. Try putting it in the freezer for a few minutes. When you take it out, if the humidity is high, it will cause moisture to condense on the surface. Or use your breath. The condensation often makes the mark more readable. Read the mark quickly because the condensation doesn’t last long.

2. Take a beeswax candle flame and hold the flame near the mark. Do not heat things up but rather hold the flame just far enough away so that soot/smoke begins to cover the mark area. The next step depends on the condition of the mark. Sometime the soot is enough. Other times if you gentle brush the soot away, much like a CSI doing a fingerprint, you will be able to resolve the mark.
   
   Another advantage of the soot approach -- Once the mark is viable, take some clear tape and press it over the soot. When you lift the tape (like an CSI) the soot image will be lifted. You can then place the tape on a piece of white paper and have a record.