question on victorian lettering on item

Hello there. It's been a number of years since I posted here, but I have
a question I hope someone can help me with.

I have a safe with a date of 1852 on it. I've been able to verify it was
probably made in the 1850s by the King safe comany, but I'd like to
verify if the lettering on it also dates to 1852 as it appears to claim.

The lettering, you'll see, is almost illegible from age, and I had to
hit the surface with some WD 40 to bring parts up clear enough to read.
Now yesterday, because I was using a flashlight on it in the garage, by
accident i discovered that what I thought was yellow or aged white paint
was actually either gold paint or some kind of gold leaf that has
acquired grime over the years, along with wearing away here and there.
The script also appears to have been a combination of black and gold
lettering since I could still see traces of black paint that had worn
away over the years, intermixed with the remaining gold. It may have at
one time have actually been "nice" black and gold lettering that has
degraded into funky lettering now as you see. Ok so here are the
questions:

Can anyone tell me if gold paint was available and used in 1852
California for lettering?

Is there any way for me to find out whether this is paint or some kind
of gold leaf?

Is there any test I can make to verify if the lettering dates to 1852 as
it claims?

I'm grateful to anyone who can give me any help with this!

Kris Baker...

Gold leaf has been around much longer than that; the Japanese used it in the
1500s.

Gold leaf is applied in sheets, with a special glue; gold (and metallic
paints) can be brushed on.

What you're really asking is: "Is what the safe says, authentic"?????

vince garcia...

Hi Kris. Yes, that's what I'm trying to establish. The circumstantial
evidence seems pretty good, but if there is a way to pin it down with
some degree of certainty, I'd like to do it.

Kris Baker...

What does it say?

vince garcia...

Parts are hard to read as I say, but it seems to read:

BANKING AND* EXPRESS

WELLS-FARGO and Co.

1852

* this is almost illegible. Could be an "A" and a "D" (A D or A.D.)or an
"AND" in which the N has completely worn off.