Whether you are new to silver investing or have been investing for some time, I’m sure you have seen vintage or “antique” silver bars for sale either online on sites like eBay or at your local coin shop. Vintage bars can contain a number of designs and can also be found in a wide range of sizes.
Over the past 100+ years there have been a good amount of silver bar producers, most of which are no longer in business making some of their bars scarce and collectible. Being highly sought after by collectors, vintage bars often fetch higher premiums over spot price depending on the desirability and rarity of a specific bar. There are a many factors which can determine the value of a vintage bar which we will discuss in the following paragraphs.
Determining The Value of an Antique Silver Bar
Unlike silver bullion bars where the value can be calculated solely based on the current spot price, antique bar values vary greatly from bar to bar and are determined more so by collector demand. The demand for a specific bar can vary based on the rarity of the design, desirability of the brand or the weight/size of the bar. For example, if an antique bar was produced by a reputable mint such as Engelhard and contains an unusual amount of silver (ex. 5.17 oz) it may fetch a higher premium over spot.
Another factor to take into consideration is the serial number. Many bars with low serial numbers, meaning they where one of the first bars ever produced by the company can be highly desirable. For example, a bar with the serial number 0001 may sell for a substantial premium compared to a bar with a higher serial number.
Where To Buy
As you can imagine, purchasing antique silver bullion bars can sometimes be a bit difficult and may require some searching. This is because many of these bars are rare and hard to come by, and many others are already in someones collection. One of your best bets in finding the antique bar you are looking for is to start on eBay. It is not uncommon to find antique Engelhard, Johnson Matthey and other brand bars for sale on auction sites.
Typically when a collector is searching for a vintage bar, they have a specific brand in mind. Many are looking to either complete an existing collection or find a rare bar they don’t yet have.This can sometimes take some time and effort as many online dealers don’t regularly stock them and they may often be listed improperly when they are for sale online by third party sellers.
Aside from scouring the internet for a hard to find antique silver bar, one of your other options is to visit a local coin shop. These dealers often buy rare and collectible pieces of silver from their customers private collections. Though it will depend upon your local dealers inventory at any given point in time, it is possible to find vintage bars here.