A system for determining the authenticity of an object comprising: a reference image acquisition module for acquiring at least one reference image for object authenticity detection, said reference image acquisition module comprising: a light source, configured to direct circumferential light toward an authentication region on said object, said circumferential light being at least one of collimated and telecentric, said circumferential light impinging on said authentication region from a plurality of different azimuthal directions and at a first predetermined oblique angle relative to the normal of a plane defined by said object; an imager, comprising an imaging sensor, said imager being focused on said authentication region, for acquiring said at least one reference image, said at least one reference image comprising at least image features related to surface features scattering phenomena of said authentication region, said image features comprising a speckle pattern and a representation of surface irregularities; imaging optics, optically coupled with said imager and configured to direct scattered light from scattering of said circumferential light from said authentication region towards said imager; and a database, coupled with said imager, for storing said at least one reference image; characterized in that said imager and imaging optics are positioned relative to said authentication region such that specular reflection of said circumferential light reflecting from said authentication region at said first predetermined oblique angle, which defines a first specular reflection region, does not impinge on said imager, wherein said specular reflection comprises light from the circumferential light that is reflected from said authentication region at an angle equal to the first predetermined oblique angle relative to the normal of a plane defined by said object; in that said imager and said imaging optics are positioned such that said imaging optics receives at least a portion of scattered light from scattering of said circumferential light from said authentication region and directs the received portion of scattered light to said imager, said at least one reference image being a focused image of said scattered light, wherein said scattered light comprises light from the circumferential light that is diffusely reflected from said authentication region; in that said first specular reflection region and a sensing region defined by said imaging sensor are mutually exclusive in space; and in that the reference image acquisition module further comprises an aperture, located between said imaging optics and said imager, and configured to block said specular reflection from impinging on said imaging sensor. a light source, configured to direct circumferential light toward an authentication region on said object, said circumferential light being at least one of collimated and telecentric, said circumferential light impinging on said authentication region from a plurality of different azimuthal directions and at a first predetermined oblique angle relative to the normal of a plane defined by said object; an imager, comprising an imaging sensor, said imager being focused on said authentication region, for acquiring said at least one reference image, said at least one reference image comprising at least image features related to surface features scattering phenomena of said authentication region, said image features comprising a speckle pattern and a representation of surface irregularities; imaging optics, optically coupled with said imager and configured to direct scattered light from scattering of said circumferential light from said authentication region towards said imager; and a database, coupled with said imager, for storing said at least one reference image; characterized in that said imager and imaging optics are positioned relative to said authentication region such that specular reflection of said circumferential light reflecting from said authentication region at said first predetermined oblique angle, which defines a first specular reflection region, does not impinge on said imager, wherein said specular reflection comprises light from the circumferential light that is reflected from said authentication region at an angle equal to the first predetermined oblique angle relative to the normal of a plane defined by said object; in that said imager and said imaging optics are positioned such that said imaging optics receives at least a portion of scattered light from scattering of said circumferential light from said authentication region and directs the received portion of scattered light to said imager, said at least one reference image being a focused image of said scattered light, wherein said scattered light comprises light from the circumferential light that is diffusely reflected from said authentication region; in that said first specular reflection region and a sensing region defined by said imaging sensor are mutually exclusive in space; and in that the reference image acquisition module further comprises an aperture, located between said imaging optics and said imager, and configured to block said specular reflection from impinging on said imaging sensor.