History & provenance
A refiner’s name with two centuries behind it.
IntroducedJohnson Matthey founded 1817
Archive record1980s
The 1980s issue is one chapter in the series. Johnson Matthey began in London in 1817 as an assaying business and became an official assayer and refiner to the Bank of England in 1852. Its name later appeared on a wide range of serialized investment bars produced for international markets.
Vintage silver bars are collected by weight, hallmark, reverse pattern, serial range, and production facility. Because the company exited much of the retail bullion field, surviving pieces carry a historical premium tied to refinery provenance rather than an ongoing annual series.
SourceJohnson Matthey — Company heritage↗Collector reference only. Dies, finishes, packaging, and production varieties can differ between examples; independently authenticate high-value purchases.
vintagemintedserialized
