Silver bars are produced to specific standards and are marked on the bar thus a silver bar should have stamp on it, the amount of silver content, the degree of fineness which should be 999.0 or more, and the name of the mint in which it was struck. 100-oz silver bullion bars are often called investment bars. The most popular silver bars are Johnson-Matthey and Engelhard which are only available when other investors decide to sell since they have not been mass-produced since the mid-1980s.
Johnson Matthey is a British chemical company which has its headquarters near Holborn in central London. It is traded on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Johnson Matthey is a global supplier of a diverse range of silver products and high performance coatings. Johnson Matthey is one of the premier companies specializing in the refining, fabrication and marketing of precious metals with operations in over 30 countries.
Heraeus, the precious metals and technology group headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a global, private company active in the businesses of precious metals, sensors, dental health, quartz glass, and specialty lighting sources.
By the mid-1980s Engelhard ceased production of silver bullion products. However, because of the huge quantities of silver bars turned out in the 1970s and 1980s, Engelhard silver bars silver bars usually are available today. Yet, during periods of strong silver buying, sometimes Engelhard silver bars become scarce.
100 oz bars – These bars weigh 6.8 pounds (3.11 kg) and are among the most popular with retail investors. Popular brands are Engelhard and Johnson Matthey. Those brands cost a bit more, usually about 40-80 cents per ounce above the spot price, but that price may vary with market conditions.
