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    Johnson Matthey Silver Bars: Quality, History, and

    Key Takeaways
    • Hey everyone, Just read this article on Johnson Matthey silver bars: Johnson Matthey Silver Bars: Quality, History, and Investment Guide .
    • It was a good refresher on a classic.
    • I've always had a soft spot for JM – their reputation for quality truly is top-notch, as the article mentions with their .999 fine standard.
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    Hey everyone,

    Just read this article on Johnson Matthey silver bars: Johnson Matthey Silver Bars: Quality, History, and Investment Guide. It was a good refresher on a classic. I've always had a soft spot for JM – their reputation for quality truly is top-notch, as the article mentions with their .999 fine standard. I actually bought a few 1oz JM rounds back in the late 90s, when I first started dabbling in precious metals, and they're still some of my favorite pieces. There's just something about that historical aspect, knowing they've been around since 1817, that adds to the appeal for me. My dad even had a couple of their 10oz bars from his investing days that he passed down to me. They've definitely held their value, if not appreciated nicely over the years.

    The article really highlighted their long-standing reliability, and it got me thinking about my own portfolio. I've been diversifying a bit more into gold lately, especially thinking about my retirement goals and leaving something tangible for my kids. But silver, especially from a reputable refiner like JM, definitely still has a place. The lower entry point and industrial demand make it an attractive option, even if it can be a bit more volatile than gold. It's not a huge part of my current holdings, but the article reminded me why I started with it in the first place.

    Anyone else here big on Johnson Matthey? Or do you prefer other refiners for your silver stack? Curious to hear your thoughts on JM's place in today's precious metals market, especially with so many newer mints out there. Always good to get some fresh perspectives from this community!

    4
    15 comments

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    Best Answer▲ 19 upvotes
    N
    nancy_hall💰Established (100-250k)
    It's interesting to see the thread on Johnson Matthey bars! I actually used to hold a good chunk of my silver in 100oz JM bars back in the early 2010s. I remember buying five of them in March 2011, right before silver shot up to nearly $50/oz. The premium on them was so low at the time, maybe $0.75 over spot from my local dealer in Tampa. Fast forward to 2013, when I decided to reallocate some funds into gold. I found that while the JM bars were liquid, the buy-back premium was a little less competitive than with some of the more recognizable government-minted coins, even at that size. Still, no regrets; they were solid, easy to store, and definitely a foundational piece of my early precious metals journey before I moved more heavily into my Gold IRA.

    Comments (15)

    8
    catherine_bell🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor2 months ago

    Interesting discussion on Johnson Matthey silver bars! While I appreciate the history and quality of their silver, my focus for the past five years has been exclusively on building up my gold IRA. After seeing my 401k take a hit back in the 2008 downturn, I decided to diversify my retirement savings with physical precious metals. The tax advantages of a direct gold IRA rollover for a significant portion of my portfolio have been a game-changer, providing me with peace of mind knowing a substantial chunk of my future is protected.

    5
    carol_carter💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor2 months ago

    I appreciate the detailed dive into Johnson Matthey, especially their historical significance, but I think focusing solely on silver bars, even from a reputable refiner, misses a crucial point for long-term portfolio stability. In my personal experience, diversifying beyond just silver and into gold has been instrumental. I started with a significant portion (around 60%) in silver, including some JM bars from a reseller back in 2012, but after seeing the volatility during specific market shifts, I gradually rebalanced over the last few years. For silver fans, check out the Silver vs Stocks comparison at https://silvervsstocks.goldirablueprint.com/?period=10Y – it really highlights how a balanced approach, even with a strong silver component, can offer better overall security against inflation and market uncertainty. I ultimately shifted about 40% of my silver holdings into gold to achieve a more reliable hedge.

    18
    joyce_cooper📊Growing (50-100k)✓ Verified2 months ago

    Really appreciate this Johnson Matthey thread! I’ve been holding their 100oz bars since late 2018 in my Gold IRA, and the quality is consistently top-notch. For anyone researching these bars (or any precious metals for that matter), I found the Kitco "Ask the Expert" columns incredibly insightful, especially their pieces on assay marks and refining processes. It really helped me understand the purity standards and historical significance Johnson Matthey brought to the table.

    6
    jennifer_martinez💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified2 months ago

    Speaking of quality silver, I've been incredibly impressed with the physical delivery options from Augusta Precious Metals. I know this thread is about Johnson Matthey, but their latest white paper, "Safeguarding Your Retirement with Physical Gold and Silver," really solidified my decision to diversify beyond just bars. It’s not just about the purity; their guidance on allocating 10-15% of my portfolio to metals, especially given the current inflation, has been invaluable since I fully retired in July.

    11
    charles_lewis💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor2 months ago

    @Jennifer Martinez I couldn't agree more! While we're all here appreciating the history of Johnson Matthey, your point about physical delivery options from companies like Augusta is spot on. I’ve had smooth, insured deliveries of 500oz of gold bullion in 2022 and another 250oz of silver eagles just last year, and the process was flawless. Having that tangible asset in hand is paramount.

    19
    nancy_hall💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor2 months ago

    It's interesting to see the thread on Johnson Matthey bars! I actually used to hold a good chunk of my silver in 100oz JM bars back in the early 2010s. I remember buying five of them in March 2011, right before silver shot up to nearly $50/oz. The premium on them was so low at the time, maybe $0.75 over spot from my local dealer in Tampa. Fast forward to 2013, when I decided to reallocate some funds into gold. I found that while the JM bars were liquid, the buy-back premium was a little less competitive than with some of the more recognizable government-minted coins, even at that size. Still, no regrets; they were solid, easy to store, and definitely a foundational piece of my early precious metals journey before I moved more heavily into my Gold IRA.

    10
    diane_bailey💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor2 months ago

    My two cents on this "Johnson Matthey Silver Bars" discussion: while the historical significance and quality are well-documented, I've personally shifted almost entirely out of silver, including my JM bars from 2012. After seeing gold consistently outperform silver by a significant margin since 2018, especially with my 20oz holdings, I just don't see silver as a reliable long-term store of wealth these days, despite the industrial demand. Gold, for me, has been the true king in my portfolio of over $150,000, offering the stability and growth I value for my retirement in Savannah.

    6
    sharon_evans💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor2 months ago

    @Carol Carter – While delving into the history of Johnson Matthey is fascinating, especially their silver bars, I think you're hitting on a key point about broader strategic planning. For investors like me, it's not just about specific bars; it’s about securing our financial future. My husband and I completed a gold IRA rollover from his old 401k a few years back, back in 2021, precisely to diversify our retirement savings. The tax advantages of holding precious metals in a self-directed account are significant, and that's the angle many of us are really focusing on, beyond just the historical value of a particular manufacturer.

    15
    linda_taylor📊Growing (50-100k)✓ Verified2 months ago

    @Jennifer Martinez - While I appreciate the Augusta Precious Metals shout-out, and their physical delivery is solid, for Johnson Matthey bars specifically, I always found their historical premium fairly reflected their quality. For anyone still weighing precious metals versus other asset classes in this thread, I highly recommend checking out this Gold vs Stocks chart – the 10-year comparison really puts long-term growth and stability into perspective, which was critical for my own Gold IRA strategy back in 2018 when I moved a significant portion of my retirement.

    19
    matthew_murphy👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor2 months ago

    Appreciate you taking the time to share this. Lots to think about for my own portfolio.

    0
    susan_clark💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor2 months ago

    @Nancy Hall Those 100oz JM bars were a solid choice back then, especially with silver's run in 2011. Regarding this "Johnson Matthey Silver Bars: Quality, History, and Investment Guide" thread, my personal experience with my Gold IRA shifted dramatically after I moved a good portion from allocated physical to unallocated. While it freed up some storage fees, I quickly found it harder to track my specific holdings and felt less secure. My actionable advice is to prioritize allocated physical gold in your Gold IRA, even if it means slightly higher fees – the peace of mind knowing *exactly* what bars and coins you own, and where they are, is invaluable in my book.

    14
    frank_rivera💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor2 months ago

    Been following this thread on Johnson Matthey bars, and it reminds me of this fantastic article from JM Bullion that really breaks down the different authentication methods for their older pours vs. newer strikes. It helped me feel much more confident when I was snagging a 100oz bar back in '19; knowing what to look for on those hallmarks was critical for avoiding fakes.

    2
    donna_rogers🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor2 months ago

    You know, while everyone is rightly praising the JM silver bars in this thread for their quality and history, and they absolutely deserve it, I can't help but notice the nearly singular focus on *silver*. For my Gold IRA, after watching the market since 2018, I deliberately opted for 5-ounce PAMP Suisse gold bars over any silver variant – even from a reputable refiner like Johnson Matthey. Frankly, as a long-term hedge, the sheer volume and storage considerations for an equivalent dollar amount in silver simply didn't make sense for my retirement planning compared to the concentrated value of gold. When you're talking about holding six figures worth, the logistical advantages of gold are undeniable.

    0
    margaret_chen🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor2 months ago

    Interesting discussion on Johnson Matthey bars! While I appreciate the history, my focus has been on the gold IRA side of precious metals. Back in 2018, I executed a 401k rollover into a self-directed IRA, specifically allocating 25% of my retirement savings to physical gold bullion. The peace of mind from diversifying with tangible assets, plus the inherent tax advantages, has been a cornerstone of my strategy as I approach retirement.

    9
    steven_mitchell🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified2 months ago

    Anyone else remember the panic when Johnson Matthey Metals announced their exit from the precious metals refining business back in 2015? I had just loaded up on 500oz of their 100oz silver bars, thinking I was snagging a stable, trusted brand. While their quality was always top-notch, and my bars in storage still look pristine, that whole episode underscored for me the vital importance of considering the **liquidity and perceived collectibility** of a bar alongside its pure metal content. JM’s reputation *did* cushion the blow, but it made me seriously re-evaluate my allocation in favor of more widely recognized government-minted coins for future silver buys, even with their higher premiums.

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