Buy Asahi Refining Coins and Bars

Asahi Refining is one of the newest private mints in the precious metals market. However, its refinery business is not new. The company purchased gold and silver facilities in the US and Canada from Johnson Matthey, which has a history of approximately 200 years refining and minting precious metals. In 2015, Asahi Refining began operations at its first two facilities in March 2015. These two facilities in Salt Lake City and Brampton operate under the Asahi Refining name. In contrast, the third facility in Canada, St. Catharines, is registered as Niagara Investment Castings, a division of Asahi Refining Canada Ltd.

Asahi Refining History

Asahi Refining seemingly came about overnight, generating London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) bars with efficiency and ease. In reality, Asahi Refining was able to absorb the operations of a well-rooted refining and precious metals production line owned by Johnson Matthey, a British multinational specialty chemical and sustainable technologies company. Based in the UK, the company was established in 1817 in London. Johnson Matthey's roots go back even further into the precious metals industry, with founder Percival Norton Johnson setting up a gold assay business in London in 1802. Fast-forward to 1851, he joined forces with George Matthey to create Johnson Matthey. The company was made an official Bank of England Assayer and Refiner that year, building a refining business that lasted 160 years

Asahi Refining's parent company is Japan-based Asahi Holdings, established in Tokyo in July 1952. It currently has two main corporate centers in Japan, one in Tokyo and one in Kobe. The company has business lines that extend to the recycling and trading of precious and rare metals (mainly gold, silver, palladium, and platinum), industrial waste treatment, hazardous waste detoxification, and precious metals analysis.

Asahi Holdings increased its profile and operations within the precious metals industry in 2014 when it agreed to buy Johnson Matthey's gold and silver refining interests. The deal was announced in December 2014 but was not officially completed until July 2015. Asahi Holdings agreed to pay Johnson Matthey $186 million (USD) in cash to complete the purchase of its facilities but did not acquire all of Johnson's former facilities. Matthey.

Under the terms of the sale, Asahi Holdings took control of Johnson Matthey's refining operations at its facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) and Brampton, Ontario (Canada). Also included in the deal was the third facility at Johnson Matthey's operation in St. Catharines, Canada, which is an investment casting service center. These facilities in Salt Lake City and Brampton were combined under the operating name of Asahi Refining, while the St. Catharine's facility operates as Niagara Investment Castings, a division of Asahi Refining Canada Limited.

Refining

The first products achieved by the newly formed Asahi Refining Inc. were 100 oz. Silver bars. For many longtime investors in the precious metals industry, the first products minted by Asahi Refining were eerily similar.

It is unknown if Asahi Refining used the same casts that Johnson Matthey had used for decades, but Asahi's first 100 Oz silver bars resembled Johnson Matthey bars of the same weight. The bars feature simple features like matte finishes and rough edges. Rectangular in shape, the engravings on the obverse of the bar were arranged vertically from top to bottom.

At the head of the bar was an engraving of the new Asahi Refining logo, an oval with "Asahi SLC" on the outer edge. Inside the emblem bears the words "Assayers, Refiners". On the bottom of the bar are the essential engravings required for LBMA-rated bars: weight, purity, and the assayer's note.

Asahi Refining is certified as an LBMA Responsible Gold Compliant Company and a London Good Delivery Refinery. For silver bars to reach good delivery standards, they must get the following condition:

• Contain a minimum silver content of 750 troy ounces, with a total silver content of 1,100 troy ounces.

• The bars must have dimensions not exceeding 300 mm in length, 130 mm in width, and not more than 80 mm.

• The minimum acceptable fineness is .999 pure silver.

• Bars are not considered good deliveries unless they have markings that include a refinery assayer's stamp, fineness, year of manufacture, and a serial number with seven numbers/letters.

Where is the Asahi refinery?

Asahi Refining's parent company is Japan-based Asahi Holdings, established in Tokyo in July 1952. It currently has two main corporate centers in Japan, one in Tokyo and one in Kobe.

Why buy Asahi?

Asahi Refining, a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Holdings Inc., is a leading refiner, trader, and manufacturer of precious metal bullion products. It is certified as an LBMA Responsible Gold Compliant Company and a London Good Delivery Refinery. The Good Delivery specification is a set of rules issued by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) describing the physical characteristics of gold and silver bars used in settlement in the wholesale London bullion market. It also puts forth requirements for listing on the LBMA Good Delivery List of approved refineries. London bullion market. It also puts forth requirements for listing on the LBMA Good Delivery List of approved refineries.

Asahi also serves a global customer base from the mining, recycling, banking, and bullion trading industries. 

Why buy from BOLD?

Including precious metals as a part of an investment portfolio is a great way to solidify your portfolio. There are many online dealers, but one should always go with a trusted dealer that has the best prices, the highest quality, and the best customer service. BOLD Precious Metals has the most consistent low prices, availability, and great customer service. Why shop anywhere else?

BOLD is proud to be affiliated with the best bullion-related service providers in the world, including:

• The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), whose focus is to educate and encourage legal compliance through a greater understanding of laws and regulations that apply to the jewelry industry. 

• Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) are two of the world’s largest and most trusted third-party coin grading service providers. 

• CyberSource and PayPal, are single platform solutions that accept payment worldwide that are secured by industry-standard automated fraud protection.     

Should you require our assistance, you may reach us by phone at 1-866-454-BOLD (2653). Or, if you prefer, email us at [email protected].