If you are thinking about investing in the gold market, there are only a few fabricators, mints or manufacturers in the world that can promise top-of-the-line gold bars, ingots and coins. Physical gold is a popular investment vehicle because its value is inherent, unlike investments in paper gold, such as gold derivatives, or stocks of mining companies. Paper gold investments are only indirectly based on the gold market, and in many cases, are not even backed by any gold at all.
When it comes to physical gold, Johnson Matthey is perhaps among the most popular brands throughout the world. One of the founding members of London Gold Fixing, as well as a leading European bullion refiner and assayer, Johnson Matthey is the original aristocrat of the European gold industry. A hundred years on, JM bars are still very much in demand. Today, the company is one of the oldest active refineries in the world and refines precious metals for the Bank of England.
Background
Originally established as a gold assaying business by London-based entrepreneurs Percival Johnson and George Matthey in 1817, Johnson Matthey was incorporated in 1851. Since that time, it has grown into one of the world’s leading specialty chemistry companies, with over 10,000 employees across the globe.
Aside from precious metal refining and casting, JM is involved in diverse technological and engineering operations, such as emission controls, fuel cell technology, medical device components, metal joining and much more. With respect to precious metals, JM refines and recovers platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium and ruthenium, as well as gold and silver.
Products
JM gold bars can be found in a range of sizes. One of the most important and historically-significant pieces manufactured by Johnson Matthey is the 1/2oz Republic National Bank of New York Gold Bar. With 99.99% purity, the bar was originally sold to investors after gold restrictions were lifted in the US in the 1970s. The Republic National Bank of New York Gold Bar is guaranteed for weight and purity, along with a serial number, stamped into the bar.
Gold bars from Johnson Matthey are impeccably-crafted, and carry with them the promise and reliability of a master craftsman. The company’s 1oz and 10oz bars are among the most sought-after in the industry, and with good reason. The bars are struck from 99.99% fine gold, and have the gold metal purity and weight stamped onto the surface. The 10oz pressed gold bar also has the JM logo imprinted on the reverse, repeated diagonally from end to end.
10 Ounce Johnson Matthey Gold Bars
Today, the rarity of some Jonson Matthey gold products only adds allure to the company’s products. Johnson Matthey gold bars are also approved for IRA accounts, giving individuals the option to diversify wealth and plan for retirement by investing in a proven market.
Premiums
Nearly all gold ingots will be priced slightly above the actual value of the gold they contain. This additional cost, called the ‘premium,’ varies based on what company made the ingot and how the reseller chooses to price the product. Most investors who buy from resellers find that the convenience of buying from a reputable dealer far outweighs the negligible cost of the premium.
Newer JM ingots are generally sold with a reasonably low premium, but older, more collectible bars may warrant higher premiums due to their rarity. To get the most value for your investment, make sure you find out when the JM bar was cast and, if possible, verify which of the JM mints it originally came from.