Published 2 June 2026
Common refiners on the UK secondary market
Silver bullion bars in UK private hands most often come from a handful of recognised refiners. Johnson Matthey (JM) bars from the 1970s and 1980s are still very common in long-held collections. PAMP Suisse, Metalor and Valcambi cover the modern Swiss-refined range. Republic Metals (now part of Asahi), Sunshine Mint, Engelhard and Royal Canadian Mint all produce silver bars seen frequently in the UK. The Royal Mint introduced its own silver Britannia bar range more recently.
All of these are saleable. Some carry small brand premiums in the collector market, vintage JM and Engelhard bars in particular, but the offer is built primarily from weight and purity.
Sizes commonly seen
Silver bars trade in 1 ounce, 5 ounce, 10 ounce, 100 gram, 1 kilo and 100 ounce sizes. The 100 ounce bar is the wholesale standard and the heaviest most private sellers post. Smaller bars (1 ounce and 5 ounce) carry a higher per-ounce premium when bought new and trade close to bullion when resold. Larger bars trade closest to wholesale.
Condition rules that matter
Silver tarnishes naturally. A black or grey patina on a bar is normal and does not affect the silver content or the offer. Heavy scratching that obscures the serial stamp can affect the offer because some downstream buyers will only accept a verifiable serial. Deep dents on rim or corner do not change content but can affect handling cost.
How an offer is calculated
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. For silver bars the inputs are weight, XRF reading (confirming .999 fine or .9999 fine silver), refiner brand recognition and condition. The written valuation lists each bar separately so you can see exactly how the total was built.
Posting silver bars
- WhatsApp photos of both faces of each bar and any assay cards to 07763 741067.
- Wait for the shape-of-offer reply and the prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Wrap each bar in bubble wrap individually.
- Use a rigid box rather than a soft envelope, silver bars are heavy and sharp-cornered.
- Confirm the total parcel weight sits inside Royal Mail Special Delivery limits before posting.
- Drop off at a Post Office counter and forward the tracking on WhatsApp.
Insurance, decline and payment
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. A 100oz silver bar can exceed that cap on its own at higher silver prices, and a kilo bar is close. Tell us before you ship and we will arrange the right label split. Accept and Faster Payments leaves the same working day. Decline and the bar is returned to you by tracked post at our cost.
Common questions
Do you buy old JM and Engelhard bars?
Yes. Vintage JM and Engelhard bars sometimes carry a small collector premium.
Do you buy tarnished silver bars?
Yes. Tarnish is normal and does not affect the offer. Please do not polish them.
What if my bar has no assay card?
It is still saleable. The XRF reading confirms purity.
Is my parcel insured?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. Larger bars travel under more than one label.
Do you accept 100oz bars?
Yes. We will arrange the right cover and label given the weight and value.
When am I paid?
By Faster Payments on the working day you accept the valuation.
Do I need to visit a shop?
No. The service is by post.
How long does the test take?
Usually the same working day your parcel arrives.