http://www.coinweek.com/bullion-rep...ng-new-one-ounce-johnson-matthey-silver-bars/ Im so happy to hear this! What do you think this will do to the premiums of these bars? On on hand, it could go down since they are making more or on the other hand it could go up because maybe people will get back into JM and if you can tell the difference between the old and new style, maybe the older ones will become more sought after.
I heard these bars are made by Sunshine Mint for JM. They have an "A" in the serial number to tell them apart. Not as collectible IMO, but for those who just want the JM look for a good price in good condition probably not a bad buy. If anything these may cause the original bars to command a higher premium.
So certain "brands" of bars are collectible? I guess I never knew that. I assumed they were simply forms of PM. As it is, I prefer junk or ASE's since bars do not have a uniform size, and after that Australian video someone posted I am very leery of Chinese silver plated bars.
In my experience JM and Engelhard bars are the most collectible regular type of bars mostly because they are well known and have serial numbers which decrease the likelihood of counterfeiting, notwithstanding art bars, loaf bars, poured bars, or ingots which often cost more. You can often get them for the same price as other generic bars, but some people are willing to pay a premium for them. I pretty much buy them when I can get them for generic price because they will hold their resale value better than most bars you can get for the same price. I agree that government issue coins are safer, and I have seen counterfeit bars from Sunshine Mint and Pan America (both non-serialed), but so far none from JM or Engelhard, not to say they aren't out there. There are counterfeit ASE's as well though.
Granted, as well as other bullion coins. I guess my thinking was you always have exact specs as to size and thickness on coins to compare to, as well as more design detail to inspect. These attributes should theoretically make it easier to spot fakes, but I agree any form of silver can be, and has been, faked.
Then its a good coin shop. A little trick I learned long ago, if you want to see what kind of dealer you have, is some day ask to see his "black cabinet" of fakes. If he doesn't have one, find another dealer. Either he sells the fakes he gets, (and every dealer gets them), or doesn't know how to spot them. Either way, he is not a dealer you wish to do business with.
Try buying a Pamp Suisse bar some time. They can go for almost double melt. I have a couple because I like the look of them. Swiss stuff is always primo.
