Help figuring out year model of 40hp force

[Jason Lanier]

Hi all I just recently purchased a 40hp Force by Mercury outboard. The serial number sticker was painted on over and when the seller tried to remove the paint the serial number came off with it. He believes it is a 95 or 96 model. Anyway other than the serial number to figure it out?

 

[Jason Lanier]

 

[Jerryjerry05]

94-99
Look on the block.
They put a foundry stamp on it somewhere.
Usually a circle and in the middle of the circle is a number. The year.

 

[Jason Lanier]

This is the only other marking I found. In the middle of the small circle looks like a 6

 

[Jerryjerry05]

That's the stamp. probably a 96.
A pic of the cowl?
A pic of the lower unit?
Sometime??? If the starter hasn't been changed??? It will have a date on it.