1. A system for authentication of a mark comprising a plurality of taggants, the system comprising: at least one energy source providing energy at at least one wavelength that stimulates the taggants to emit radiation with at least one intensity versus wavelength distribution; a detection apparatus configured to measure the emitted intensity versus wavelength distribution and provide at least one output signal corresponding to the emitted intensity versus wavelength distribution; and a device including a program that performs a multivariate statistical analysis of the output signal to determine authenticity of the mark based on a measurement statistic and a predetermined statistical confidence limit.