Ohio Precious Metals (OPM) Silver Bars: Value, Features & Buying Guide

I picked up a few OPM 100oz bars back in 2013 when they were still operating. The premium was pretty good compared to Sunshine or Engelhard at the time. Still hold 'em in my vault in Delaware – makes for a nice chunk of my precious metals allocation outside of the IRA.

Glad to see a thread on OPM, brings back memories. I remember loading up on their 100oz bars back in 2009, right after the whole '08 financial meltdown. My financial advisor in Honolulu at the time was pushing me hard into real estate, but something just felt off. Instead, I sank about 15% of my portfolio, roughly $80k at the time, into physical silver, mostly those OPM bars, and stashed them in a secure vault here on Oahu. That decision, looking back, was one of the best I made – those bars are now a significant chunk of my metals portfolio, and frankly, a comfort given the current economic winds.

Interesting thread. I've always leaned more towards gold myself, but OPM silver bars definitely hold a place in my earlier investment days. Back in 2010, I picked up a 100oz OPM bar for around $1,800 total when silver was hovering in that $18 an ounce range. I remember the weight of that thing when I picked it up from the local coin shop near the Country Club Plaza – felt like I was securing a piece of history right there in Kansas City. It was one of the first substantial precious metal purchases in my portfolio, which now sits closer to the $80k mark, mostly in gold. Eventually sold it during a spike in 2011 to rebalance into some physical American Gold Eagles, but it was a solid, recognizable piece that moved easily.

Interesting thread on OPM bars. While I appreciate the sentiment of diversifying into physical precious metals, I've always leaned heavily into gold for my IRA, especially given the current geopolitical landscape. My own experience, looking back at 2020 when I first started moving a significant chunk (around $150k) of my retirement savings from traditional assets into a Gold IRA, really solidified that decision. The stability and historical performance of gold just feel more robust for long-term wealth preservation compared to silver, especially when navigating the volatility we've seen.

This was a solid overview of OPM bars. I've been holding a mix of their 10oz and kilo bars for a few years now, and the premiums have always been competitive when I buy. One thing I've found interesting is how much the secondary market value can fluctuate, especially for the older poured bars. Has anyone else noticed a significant difference in realized price for poured vs. minted OPM bars when selling, and what factors do you think play into that beyond just the spot price? I'm in San Diego and the local coin shops seem to almost prefer the poured aesthetically, but sometimes the offers are surprisingly similar.

Good to see a thread on OPM, been a Cleveland native for years and always appreciate hearing about local businesses in the precious metals space. Their silver bars are solid, but honestly, for anyone looking at a Gold IRA, I've found that comparing different providers is where the real value is. I stumbled across a site called GoldIRASecrets.com a while back when I was first moving around $300k into my metals portfolio, and their comparison charts saved me a ton of legwork looking at fees and storage options between the big players. Definitely worth a look if you're serious about setting one up.

@ThomasWalker That's interesting about the OPM premiums! I'm pretty new to this whole gold IRA space – just started moving some of my retirement funds over from some tech stocks earlier this year. I've been looking at a few different refiners, and OPM is definitely on my radar. Are you finding their premiums are still competitive these days, especially with how the market's been? I'm in Vegas, and trying to scope out the best local options and reputable online dealers for my next chunk of investment.

@Matthew Murphy You're lucky to have snagged those OPM bars. I was kicking myself for not getting in on them before they went under – always seemed like a solid, reputable refiner. My Gold IRA is mostly American Gold Eagles, but I do have a fair bit of Perth Mint and Royal Canadian Mint 10oz bars. While premiums are a concern, I always try to balance that against liquidity and ease of sale if the time ever comes. For me, the peace of mind knowing my gold is held in a secure vault in Delaware (similar to yours) while still having direct ownership is paramount. Honestly, the thought of trying to liquidate a stack of lesser-known refiner bars if things went sideways always gives me pause, even if the initial premium was lower. I wonder if the OPM brand recognition will hold up over time, or if it'll be more challenging to offload compared to, say, a Johnson Matthey.

@Sandra Green You really hit the nail on the head with those OPM bars. Around that same time, I was seriously looking at similar silver for my IRA and a local coin shop here in Boise was pushing it hard. Ended up going with gold instead, and while I have zero regrets given recent performance, part of me always wonders if I missed out on some of those early silver gains. It’s hard to predict, but I sometimes think too many investors overlook gold's fundamental role as a long-term wealth preserver, getting distracted by the "shiny new toy" appeal of silver's volatility.

I remember picking up my first OPM 10oz bar back in '09, right after the market pulled that stomach-churning dive. Everyone in Greenwich was either panicking or doubling down on equities, but after watching my father's paper losses in '01, I just had this gut feeling I needed something *real*. It wasn't about getting rich quick, but more about having that tangible weight, that shine in the safe deposit box that just whispered, "We're going to be okay." It's a different kind of peace of mind, knowing a portion of your wealth isn't just numbers on a screen.

Couldn't agree more about diversification being key, especially with how volatile things have been lately. I started looking into precious metals myself a few years back, when my regular portfolio (mostly tech, being in Seattle) hit a bit of a rough patch. Ended up putting about 15% of my 80k into a Gold IRA. The Gold vs Stocks 10-year comparison really put things in perspective for me, seeing how gold tends to hold steady when the market gets shaky. It's been a solid decision so far.

Honestly, I've been eyeing some of those OPM bars myself – always good to diversify beyond just gold. Speaking of which, for anyone thinking about their long-term investment strategy, especially if you're approaching retirement age, checking out the RMD Calculator at Gold IRA Blueprint was super helpful for me. It really put into perspective what my future withdrawals might look like and how precious metals fit into that. My small portfolio, still under 50k here in Columbus, certainly appreciates the planning!

@Laura Sanchez - I totally get what you mean about geopolitics driving more gold interest! I've been investing in a Gold IRA now for about three years out of Nashville, and every single time there's a big event, it just reinforces that decision for me. I started with around $75,000 of my retirement savings rolled over, mainly into American Gold Eagles, and it's given me such peace of mind. Thank you for sharing your perspective; it's always great to hear from other gold investors.

@Sandra Green, That's a fascinating look back at your OPM silver experience! It's wild to think what those prices were in 2010. While I definitely see the appeal of silver for some, especially for those who got in early like yourself, my primary focus for diversification, particularly within my IRA, has always skewed heavily towards gold. Living in a high cost-of-living area like San Francisco, I've just found gold's historical stability and consistent role as a hedge against inflation to be more aligned with my personal risk tolerance and long-term wealth preservation goals.

Just stumbled across this thread looking into different silver bar options for my Gold IRA. I just opened mine a few months ago – finally got around to rolling over my old 401k from a previous job. My advisor mentioned OPM a while back but I honestly haven't done much digging beyond the big names like JM and Sunshine. For those of you who've held OPM bars, did you find them easy to liquidate if needed? I'm in the Atlanta area, and while I'm in it for the long haul, knowing exit strategies are smooth gives me peace of mind.