The present invention provides aqueous polymer compositions containing one or more, or, preferably, two or more triphenylmethyl alkyl aryl ether markers having a formula (Ph3C)mAr(OR)n, wherein Ph is a phenyl group, Ar is an aromatic ring containing group having from six to twenty carbon atoms, R is a C1-C18 alkyl group, m is an integer of from 1 to 2, and n is an integer of from 1 to 4. The markers are readily detectable, such as by mass spectroscopy, upon solvent extraction and separation from the aqueous polymer compositions, or from dried or cured coatings, film or layers thereof.