I have 1937 in the S block with rust blue and halos on the barrel serial number. Some halos do not always form as much of a lighter colored ring as others. It can also depend on how deep the number is struck, deeper strike yields a larger halo area. The light color halo is really a result of the displaced metal around the impression. That surface metal is disturbed and altered a bit with a characteristic that I call "cellulite". Because that is what it looks like using a 10x loop. So that is something to look for, as even the best refinish will remove it. Also the sharpness and crispness of the struck edges are a big clue. They should be sharp and raised up, like a crater on the moon. None of these things can be seen without a jeweler's loop.
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