Number between spark plugs?

[PSB]

Hello,
After a number of forum searches I am still confused ....
230 SL engine is without a number etched or without a riveted tag in the usual place ( left side of engine towards the back).  I understand this was common on replacement engines sent to US where the dealer /garage didn't do the new engraving.
Now this engine has another number on the block in a different place , below the joint of the head , towards the front , in between 2 spark plugs . See the photos 1) is a full engine drawing with a red circle where the number is , 2 and 3 are a photo of the number. Difficult to acres to photograph so not sure if part of the number is hidden and not visible in the photo.
Shows top line with 1270161 , bottom line : "Mercedes star " 8-9, 3
Question: what is this number ? Some sort of part number and not an engine number ? Correct for 230 sl ?
Regards
Pedro

[Benz Dr.]

That's the casting number and the compression ratio which is actually 9.3 : 1 and not 8.3   This is a standard 230SL head.

[PSB]

Thank you very much Dan. That's clarified it .

Regards

Pedro

[MikeSimon]

The whole description was a little confusing. The number is not on the block, but on the head. And not below the joint of the head (deck) but below the valve cover. "Between the spark plugs" indicated it was on the head. I also do not see a Mercedes star but a casting that looks like "L 6" (?) which could indicate "inline 6". Never saw that before.
Do 230 heads have a mark like the 280s do, e.g.: 280 SE/A, 280, 280 SE/SL etc? If so the engine serial number should be below that on the block.

[Benz Dr.]

I think that is a star or part of one. MB uses a symbol that kind of look like an E for compression ratio and then the ratio after that, which in this case is 9.3  This is the standard cylinder head used on 230SL's. 

[Jonny B]

You made me take another look.

I think Dan got it, it is a part of the star.

[PSB]

Mike,
Absolutely right that the description is confusing ....my total lack of mechanical knowledge means I can't describe this properly, not knowing the difference between head, block etc. Nevertheless the start of the second line is very clearly has a Mercedes star and not an L . With the naked eye it is very clear, the angle of the photo ( not an easy shot) makes the star look cut off like an L.
The location is as in the full engine picture that I included as I was concerned my description of the location  could be wrong.

Regards
Pedro

[MikeSimon]

I can see it now. When it was referred to the "star", I was looking for a symbol with the circle around the three points.