The investigation of deaths presumed to be due to electric shock may require a comparison between current marks and conductors. To characterise metallisation caused by current marks were produced in the skin of one-year-old pigs with electrodes of different metals and alternating current (100 V, 50 Hz, max. 50 mA). The first step was to make frozen sections of the current marks which were analysed by histochemistry, atomic emission spectrography, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry after mineralisation. Metallisation was not only found on the surface of the skin but also a characteristical distribution of metallisation could be detected in the deeper dermal layers. The results of our experiments are discussed with the aim of identification of the electrode. The significance of the type and duration of current is discussed as well as the possibility to discriminate between current marks and thermal lesions.