Secure a niche in a closed market. Johnson Matthey silver is a closed-supply asset. Since production ended in 2015, every JM bar sold today comes from existing private inventory—meaning supply can only shrink, never expand. Each bar at BOLD is examined by XRF technology and Sigma Metalytics to ensure that it is .999 pure. Every bar is authenticated before shipment and delivered fully insured, which is why we offer discreet, fully insured delivery on every order. Inventory is limited to stock on hand. Secure your ounces before premiums adjust to shrinking supply.
5 oz Johnson Matthey Silver Bar
Out of Stock
Percival Norton Johnson founded Johnson Matthey in 1817 as an assayer and practical mineralogist at 79 Hatton Garden, London — testing gold purity by chemical and physical methods, then offering to buy back every bar he personally assayed. That founding principle, stand behind the metal you assess, shaped everything Johnson Matthey became over the next two centuries.
George Matthey joined the firm in 1851, bringing chemistry expertise that expanded its capabilities significantly. By the mid-twentieth century, Johnson Matthey was supplying silver bars to institutions, banks, and individual investors worldwide — from facilities in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, with the Salt Lake City refinery serving as the primary source for the American market.
On March 5, 2015, Asahi Holdings acquired Johnson Matthey's gold and silver refining and bullion bar manufacturing business. The divestment aligned with Johnson Matthey's strategic shift toward chemistry and high-technology solutions. Asahi assumed the former JM production facilities and now operates them under its own brand. That single transaction transformed every existing Johnson Matthey silver bar into something that can never be recreated — a verifiable piece of bullion history from a refinery whose retail silver production is permanently closed.
New silver bars carrying the Johnson Matthey brand and logo are back on dealer shelves in 2026 — but they are not made by Asahi. These bars come from CNT Precious Metals, a US-based refiner that has revived the JM brand identity on new-production silver. The 5 oz and 10 oz poured bars are currently available at major dealers as new-condition products.
This creates an important distinction every JM buyer should understand before purchasing:
BOLD's current inventory includes vintage secondary market bars. Every product listing specifies the source and condition. You will always know exactly what you are buying.
Demand for Johnson Matthey bars runs deeper than product quality alone. The name itself carries weight — earned across nearly two centuries of institutional refining and a global reputation that no amount of marketing can manufacture. Furthermore, JM bars carry outstanding liquidity: recognised immediately by dealers, depositories, and secondary market buyers worldwide, they never take a discount for being an unfamiliar brand.
Three distinct buyer profiles drive this market, and each has sound reasons for choosing JM over generic alternatives.
The 1 oz JM bar is the most widely available vintage weight and the most accessible entry point for new buyers. The obverse carries the JM logo, weight, purity, and a unique serial number. The reverse — depending on production year and facility — may feature a diagonally-oriented repeating JM hallmark pattern or sit blank. For buyers prioritising liquidity, the 1 oz size resells fastest, drawing interest across every buyer segment. IRA eligible. Secondary market condition applies; light toning or surface wear is normal and does not affect silver content.
The 5 oz silver bar sits in the sweet spot between per-ounce efficiency and manageable denomination. The cast production method — molten silver poured into a mold and stamped by hand — gives each bar a distinct, slightly irregular surface that immediately distinguishes genuine vintage production from modern minted bars. Per-ounce premiums run lower than on the 1 oz size, while full JM brand recognition is preserved. IRA Approved Silver Bullion.
The 10 oz silver bar is the format most closely associated with Johnson Matthey's institutional production era. Hallmarks and purity stamps appear at a clear, readable scale. Fewer examples surface on the secondary market at any given time than the 1 oz size — a scarcity that drives proportionally stronger premiums. A well-preserved example with sharp hallmarks ranks among the most sought-after pieces in vintage North American refinery silver.
Many 10 oz JM bars in circulation carry light contact marks, minor oxidation, or surface wear from years in bank vaults and safety deposit boxes — all expected for secondary market bullion. These cosmetic factors do not touch silver content or the bar's identity as a genuine product. For buyers focused on weight over appearance, standard market-grade examples offer a more accessible price than pristine collector pieces.
The 100 oz silver bar is the format Johnson Matthey continued pouring even as other weights wound down — making it the most continuously available weight in the JM lineup and the format most familiar to institutional buyers and serious stackers. At approximately 6.85 pounds of .999 fine silver, it also represents the most efficient per-ounce price across the entire range. Preferred by high-volume buyers and fully eligible for IRA accounts. BOLD recommends contacting us directly for bulk 100 oz orders.
At 32.15 troy ounces, the kilo silver bar is the international standard weight — accepted by depositories and dealers worldwide without question. The obverse carries the classic JM logo, the stylised initials and crossed hammers in a diamond, alongside identifying marks for weight and purity. The reverse is intentionally left blank, a characteristic of cast bar production that also gives each example a visually unique surface. IRA eligible.
The secondary market for vintage JM bars carries one risk generic bullion does not: counterfeits. Because JM bars command meaningful premiums above spot, they attract more sophisticated forgeries than anonymous silver. BOLD addresses this with a multi-stage verification process applied to every bar before it enters inventory.
Johnson Matthey bars are no longer in production. These secondary market bars have the potential for toning and wear, and may or may not arrive sealed in original plastic. Surface scratches or other aesthetic imperfections do not affect the value of the bar.
For buyers new to secondary market bullion, this distinction from new-production bars matters.
Johnson Matthey silver bars meet the IRS requirements for inclusion in a self-directed Precious Metals IRA across three criteria. First, purity: the IRS minimum is .999 fine silver, and JM bars are .999 or .9999 depending on weight and production era. Second, refiner recognition: Johnson Matthey held LBMA accreditation throughout its production years. Third, manufacturer approval: JM meets the IRS standard for bars produced by an accredited refiner, assayer, or manufacturer.
BOLD can connect you with approved IRA custodians who handle the purchase, storage, and reporting requirements for precious metals IRAs. Contact our team for details on adding JM bars to an existing self-directed IRA or opening a new account.
Buyers who want the heritage of the former JM facilities in a new-production bar should consider Asahi Refining. Founded in Japan in 1952, Asahi acquired Johnson Matthey's precious metals refining business and production facilities in 2015 — then earned Good Delivery accreditation from the LBMA, COMEX, and TOCOM in its own right. The same physical facilities, the same refining standards, a new name.
For buyers who want LBMA-pedigreed new-production silver at lower premiums than vintage JM bars, Asahi is the direct continuation of that lineage.
Browse BOLD's Asahi Silver Bars collection alongside our JM inventory.
Q: Does Johnson Matthey still make silver bars?
Johnson Matthey sold its precious metals refining division to Asahi Holdings in 2015 and exited the retail bullion market. Since 2025, a US-based refiner — CNT Precious Metals — has introduced new-production bars carrying the JM brand identity under a licensing arrangement. Bars produced before 2015 at Johnson Matthey's own refineries are the original vintage bars. BOLD specifies which type is available in each product listing.
Q: Are Johnson Matthey silver bars a good investment?
JM bars offer two investment characteristics most generic silver bars lack: globally recognised brand liquidity and a structurally finite supply of vintage bars. For buyers focused on silver content, JM bars trade easily with any dealer worldwide. For buyers interested in premium preservation over time, vintage JM bars have demonstrated consistent collector premiums of 10–30% above spot in recent years.
Q: How do I authenticate a Johnson Matthey silver bar?
Authentic JM bars feature the distinctive JM logo with stylised initials, serial numbers, weight stamps, and the .999+ Fine Silver marking. Font styles vary by production era and facility. BOLD authenticates every bar using XRF scanning and Sigma Metalytics testing before shipment — eliminating the authentication burden for buyers who purchase from us.
Q: What does secondary market condition mean for JM bars?
Secondary market bars have previously been owned and may show surface toning, light contact marks, or minor wear from storage. These cosmetic characteristics do not affect silver purity or the bar's acceptability to dealers. BOLD discloses condition in every listing and ships in protective packaging.
Q: Are Johnson Matthey silver bars IRA eligible?
Yes. Johnson Matthey silver bars meet IRS requirements for self-directed Precious Metals IRAs — they are .999+ fine silver produced by an LBMA-accredited refiner. BOLD can connect you with approved custodians for IRA purchases. Contact our team for details.
Q: What is the difference between a JM bar and an Asahi bar?
Asahi Holdings acquired Johnson Matthey's refining business and facilities in 2015. Asahi bars are produced at the former JM facilities under Asahi's own brand. Vintage JM bars were produced before 2015 under Johnson Matthey's direct ownership. Both are .999 fine silver from the same North American refinery infrastructure. Vintage JM bars typically carry higher premiums due to collector demand and finite supply.
Q: What sizes of Johnson Matthey silver bars does BOLD carry?
BOLD carries Johnson Matthey silver bars in 1 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz, 100 oz, and 1 kilo sizes, subject to current inventory. Availability varies — these are secondary market items with finite supply. Check each individual product listing for current stock status.
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