Silver bullion picture thread

1jester

Nice stash!

1jester

Justacommeman

nice stash.........right back at ya ; )

MJ

1jester

MJ, thank you, sir!

Here are the individual shots of the collection of Biblical scenes produced by the Vatican (don't know if at their own mint or not, but probably so) from 1975-78. It looks like they were produced in a series, such as one per month. I wish I knew more about them, how many sets were minted, etc. But the artwork is first class - like miniature paintings by the masters. They weigh 25 grams each of 999 silver. My set of 37 is obviously incomplete, since it's missing some key events in the history of Christianity. I wonder how many comprised the series - 50?


















































































And a couple random oriental-themed bars of the same size and weight. I have no idea what these might be:

halfhunter

Not a bar but . . .



1995 Proof Kook w/1895 Morgan Dollar privy. #79 of 500 minted.

HH

OPA

1jester ... Your collection of bars is amazing. I have no idea how you come up with some of them. I suspect Europe has a much greater following and appreciation of that hobby. This is the first time I've seen Vatican issue and I suspect the last two are Japanese made. Very nice.

Ciccio

1jester collection of bars!
If you ever decide to sell the Firenze and the UnoAerre, take me into consideration!

1jester

Halfhunter, that is one awesome kilo coin! I didn't know they were made with special privy marks. I have a few normal ones but not that year either.

OPA and Ciccio, thanks for the compliments.

Opa, I got most of these bars the past couple months from one Italian collector, and his collection dates back at least 35 years. I'm not sure if he has more but if I manage to get any more, I'll be sure to post them here. Obviously this guy had a thing for silver!

Ciccio, I have the Lingottino della Fortuna in two sizes, 25 grams and 100 grams, and what's peculiar about them, besides the fantastic artistry and subject on the obverse, is that they're made of 0.9999 fine silver, not 0.999:

Ciccio

1jester, you have a "little ingot of luck"...here in NY is the commercial (they say bit - not ingot!) for the lottery!
about the fact that it is .9999, what should I say?! Italians (like me) do it better!

1jester

<< <i>1jester, you have a "little ingot of luck"...here in NY is the commercial (they say bit - not ingot!) for the lottery!
about the fact that it is .9999, what should I say?! Italians (like me) do it better! >>



LOL, hard to argue with the facts, sir! Given these ingots are at least 30 years old, I don't know of any other manufacturers making that kind of purity back then.

Did you get my PM?

CoinCrazyPA

<< <i>One reason I don't like to open this thread is even with Broadband it takes forever for all the pics to load. If they were a bit smaller or grouped together it would be much nicer . Awesome bars tho >>



I have no problem, it loads right up. Maybe you have a virus?

1jester

This is a fascinating little bar, so crudely made. It's not even straight/squared. And has anyone seen this kind of fineness? I wonder how old it is.





Some for Cladiator:

secondrepublic

Jester, I love the European bars. Are there any Polish ones that exist?

1jester

I don't know of any Polish-produced bars except for one under the trade name Joker which is a recent production by a new company,Bullion Bank However, PAMP has produced various Polish-directed issues, including one of the old capital city of Krakow (Cracow), an example of which I posted one or two pages previously. I can only assume that it was a series of cities, but I've only seen this one example. In general I have no idea how to buy PAMP's issues directly. Another series from PAMP is the Road to the Cross series, which comprises at least 12 different issues, and they go for big bucks. When I started collecting nearly a year ago, I turned down the opportunity to buy 5 complete sets at double melt, which I felt was too high. Unfortunately I was too inexperienced in the market and didn't know what I was being offered. The dealer later sold them individually online for 4 times melt each.

1jester

1jester

Some interesting 1 gram bars I picked up the other day, along with a 5 gram PAMP and one ounce Degussa for comparison.

halfhunter

DANG ! ! ! 1jester

That is one heck-of-a silver ingot collection ! ! !

Takes it a few seconds to completely load . . . but well worth the wait ! ! !

PerryHall

<< <i>Takes it a few seconds to completely load . . . but well worth the wait ! ! ! >>



Can you imagine opening this thread with a dial-up connection?

TrustNo1

pics need to be cropped, thats why it loads so slow.... crop !

1jester

I'm sorry, Gentlemen, but I have no time to crop the pictures. It takes hours to even download and upload and resize and post.

1jester

Got some PAMPs in today. The Polish city series consisted of 12 different cities and had a mintage of 1000.





These are some different Catholic-themed bars. I don't know the mintages.

Cladiator

1jester

Cool bars, Clad. Goodness, collecting those things can be just as addictive as coins!

1jester

A Constitution Bicentennial collection by the US Mint, called "We the People". Don't know anything about it except it was designed by Frank Gasparro and includes a Constitution Dollar. But they're all silver!

AxxAmann

Hello Boys (and Girls?), many greatings from east germany ....
nice bigest silver bars !
i am delighted !
i have same interest, and i work 8h/7d at my artbar catalog page.

the first page of many german, swiss and us 1oz Artbars.
the first page of many palladium items
and a page of Silver Bullionproof
Visit ... AxxA

i search good scan picture from all 1 oz Artbars, when you can help me, kontact me.

thanks mat

sorry for my bad english

OPA

Welcome aboard ... Your English is a heck of a lot better then my Deutsch.

Just one question ... to your knowledge, did the Berlin Branch of the German Mint ever produce any Art Bars?
(Not my auctions)
example A

example B

example C

Different sellers using Archie Kidd's reference book, which is obviously wrong.

I like your catalogue. Once you get the hang of it, very easy to navigate. Of course, knowing a little bid of German does help.

AxxAmann

Hello OPA ... (in german OLD MAN, Grandpa :-)
yes the listing of german mint names in archie book is wrong.
two Mints works (end of work 1999) in the Town HANAU
DEGUSSA --- (fusion to under new Name UMICORE a belgien Co.)
HERAUES --- (fusion ARGOR (Swiss) to ARGOR-HERAEUS (Swiss)
and 5-6 little Cooperations, look my catalog.
BERLIN MINT is not right.

your Artbars:



Heraeus - 150 Jahre Eisenbahn - H-Logo - ag

Sammelgebiet : Silber Barren Silberbarren Motivbarren Heraeus Art Bars Ingots
Land / Jahr : Deutschland / 1985
Prägestätte / Zeichen : Heraeus / H in Rombe
Material / Qualität : Silber / PP Polierte Platte
Gewicht / Feinheit / Feingewicht : 31,13 g / .999 / 31,10 / 1 Unze
Größe : 42,2 x 23,5 x 3,6 mm
Katalog / Nr. / Auflage : Guide Book of Silver Art Bars / unbekannt
Münzthema : 150 Jahre Deutsche Eisenbahn
Rand : glatt, leer
Avers : Dampflokomotive und Schnellzug, 150 JAHRE EISENBAHN 1985
Revers : Heraeus, Logo, FEINSILBER 999, 1 Unze
AxxA Katalog Nr. : Herae-mb-0002



Degussa - Berlin - Brandenburger Tor - ag

Sammelgebiet : Silber Barren Silberbarren Motivbarren Degussa Art Bars Ingots
Land / Jahr : Deutschland / 1986
Prägestätte / Zeichen : Degussa / Sonne und Mond in Rombe
Material / Qualität : Silber / PP Polierte Platte
Gewicht / Feinheit / Feingewicht : 31,13 g / .999 / 31,10 / 1 Unze
Größe : 42,1 x 24,1 x 3,3 mm
Katalog / Nr. / Auflage : Guide Book of Silver Art Bars / BERLIN-14 / unbekannt
Münzthema : Städte, 750 Jahre Berlin 6er Set
Rand : glatt, leer
Avers : Brandenburger Tor, BERLIN BRANDENBURGER TOR
Revers : Degussa, Logo, FEINSILBER 999, 1 Unze
AxxA Katalog Nr. : Degus-mb-0099

and



Degussa - Berlin - Gedächtniskirche - ag

Sammelgebiet : Silber Barren Silberbarren Motivbarren Degussa Art Bars Ingots
Land / Jahr : Deutschland / 1986
Prägestätte / Zeichen : Degussa / Sonne und Mond in Rombe
Material / Qualität : Silber / PP Polierte Platte
Gewicht / Feinheit / Feingewicht : 31,13 g / .999 / 31,10 / 1 Unze
Größe : 42,1 x 24,1 x 3,3 mm
Katalog / Nr. / Auflage : Guide Book of Silver Art Bars / BERLIN-15 / unbekannt
Münzthema : Städte, 750 Jahre Berlin 6er Set
Rand : glatt, leer
Avers : Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, BERLIN GEDÄCHTNISKIRCHE
Revers : Degussa, Logo, FEINSILBER 999, 1 Unze
AxxA Katalog Nr. : Degus-mb-0101

and



Degussa - Berlin - Reichstagsgebäude - ag

Sammelgebiet : Silber Barren Silberbarren Motivbarren Degussa Art Bars Ingots
Land / Jahr : Deutschland / 1986
Prägestätte / Zeichen : Degussa / Sonne und Mond in Rombe
Material / Qualität : Silber / PP Polierte Platte
Gewicht / Feinheit / Feingewicht : 31,13 g / .999 / 31,10 / 1 Unze
Größe : 42,1 x 24,1 x 3,3 mm
Katalog / Nr. / Auflage : Guide Book of Silver Art Bars / BERLIN-16 / unbekannt
Münzthema : Städte, 750 Jahre Berlin 6er Set
Rand : glatt, leer
Avers : Berliner Reichstag, BERLIN REICHSTAGSGEBÄUDE
Revers : Degussa, Logo, FEINSILBER 999, 1 Unze
AxxA Katalog Nr. : Degus-mb-0103

three bars of first Set 750 anniversary BERLIN
the second BarSet
Degussa - Berlin - Dom - ag --- AxxA Katalog Nr. : Degus-mb-0100
Degussa - Berlin - Alte Bibliothek - ag --- AxxA Katalog Nr. : Degus-mb-0098
Degussa - Berlin - Schauspielhaus - ag --- AxxA Katalog Nr. : Degus-mb-0104





sincerely, mat

1jester

Willkommen, mein guter Herr!! Es freut mich sehr dass Sie hier mit uns mitteilen.

AxxAmann

oh, jemand der auch Deutsch kann, nice ... mein english ist "wunderbar"
Danke für die vielen schönen Fotos.
Thanks for the big pictures.

i search scans or good photographics for editing, when you can help me, please contact me.
(priority the 12 PAMP Towns, and PAMP italic series)

many greetings mat

OPA

Viele Dank AxxAmann. Your reference book will be of great help to those that collect Art Bars manufactured overseas. Archie Kidd's book is fine for US Bars, but almost worthless for bars manufactured elsewhere.

Do you have information as to where someone can still purchase the Berlin Bars?

Yes, I'm a Grandfather several times over.

AxxAmann

Berlin in Prussia is the capitol from germany.
Hanau a town in Bavaria, old tradition of coin manufacturing. (500km distance)
my hometown is leipzig in saxony, far 250km away.
I have not other information from (BERLIN-MINT) Degussa or Heraeus.
nobody from the firms haved data, picture, minted or other information.

1jester

<< <i>oh, jemand der auch Deutsch kann, nice ... mein english ist "wunderbar"
Danke für die vielen schönen Fotos.
Thanks for the big pictures.

i search scans or good photographics for editing, when you can help me, please contact me.
(priority the 12 PAMP Towns, and PAMP italic series)

many greetings mat >>



Leider ist mein Deutsch viel schlechter als es einmal war...vor 25 Jahren. Ich werde immer aelter und wahrscheinlich auch viel dummer!

I see from your website that the PAMP towns are from 1978; is that correct? So they were one of the first produced by the company (founded in 1977 if I'm not mistaken)? Do you have a list of what exactly and how many of each was produced? What is their general market value? I'm sorry my pictures are inadequate for your purposes. I do have them in larger format (up to 3mb/photo) but my photography conditions do not lend themselves very well to the format you're using (scanned?) on your website.

Here are some more PAMP bars, a collection of 14 in a limited production run of 2000 for the Polish market, entitled "Road of the Cross". I'm sure there's a more appropriate translation but you get the picture. The artwork is exquisite, as is keeping in their tradition.

AxxAmann

hello again ...
wow big pitureshow :-)

Do you have a list of what exactly and how many of each was produced? What is their general market value?
no :-( the P.A.M.P. no answhere of my questions :-( ... the price in US ??? in Euro 15-20 Euro.(rar)

see from your website that the PAMP towns are from 1978; is that correct?
the date is from 1991 Book of artbars, wehn you have other information (Blister date ?) please send me, and i correted this.

I'm sorry my pictures are inadequate for your purposes
i can edit with Adobe CS4 ... 1hours a Bar :-( ...

better 600dpi singlebar scanned,
thats a good condition and nice contrast of picture, not reflection, and my time for edit less than more as -50%.
or photographic, 20-30 cm from item (single!), good light (day, no outside,sunlight), autofocus, and centre of bar and centre of cam 0,5 diverend(not reflection)
and a book over the cam ( no reflection of cam and your face :-))))

the christbars from 2007 ?
and size standard 47,4 x 27,3 x 2,6 mm?
what's is the backside(s) -- 1 UNCJA - 999.0 -- CZYSTE SREBRO -- Eagle with Crown --- POLAND -- ?

bye,bye mat

OPA

I can't wait for the next installment ... Mike, those Bars of yours, are totally unknown in the US.

1jester

Thanks, Opa! I haven't been buying too many art bars of late, preferring to augment my stacks of pure bullion coins. However, I did just receive this set of 50 American Wildlife Collection from the Hamilton Mint (1976). I don't know what the mintage was, but perhaps 1000. My set is number 817, and came with the original maple box and trays. Unfortunately, some kind of paint/shellac was spilled on the trays, rendering them practically unusable for presentation purposes, and three of the bars were mishandled in some attempt to clean the tarnish off them. I suspect this happened after the set changed owners. I suspect originally it was ordered and meticulously cared for by a wildlife and silver lover, and perhaps he passed away and his heirs decided that the unbelievably lovely toning had to be removed. Fortunately they gave up after marring 3 of the bars, leaving the remainder with the most stunning toning I've ever encountered on silver bars (or coins, for that matter) - hues of turquoise, lilac, green and magenta going uniformly from the rim to the center, usually leaving the center and frosted devices white. And they all display the same exact toning, making for a delightful collection. Of course, the quality of the bars themselves is noteworthy, with exquisitely done nature scenes on a highly polished proof slab with frosted devices. The overall effect is awesome. Unfortunately, try as I might, I couldn't reproduce the beauty of the bars with my inadequate photographic skills. Thanks, Smitty!

1jester

OPA

Great art work and very pleasing to the eyes ...

1jester

I completely agree, Opa. This set would be hard for me to deliver to the smelter even if prices were much higher. According to Axxa's website, mintage was 250, but who knows how many exist?

Text

1jester

Here are some nice Bicentennial issues by the Swiss mint Valcambi:





And 5 vintage bars by Madison Mint:

1jester

Here are some more recent pick-ups. As usual, I appeal to any of you experts out there to help identify them or any details about them. Thanks!

First, some one ouncers:









I know I've seen this design somewhere, but any specifics escape me:



Here are some more Italian bars. These first two are a big mystery to me, but now I have a set of 1, 2, and 3 ouncers.



De Giovanni Precious Metals seems to be a renowned firm in Italy:



...as does Metalli Preziosi S.A. of Milano, a consignee of Johnson Matthey:





This has no brand listed on the bar, but there is a jeweler's mark, which all Italian bars carry. I'll have to do some research to ascertain what they mean.

OPA

Mike...even I have the Madison Mint bars ... readily available on eBay for under $25...The APMEX bars that you have, must be an older version that they no longer carry for sale. Personally I prefer their new version over the old one.

1jester

Thanks, Opa. I didn't expect the Apmex bar to be any kind of rarity; I just got it for variety. I think some of the Madison Mint bars might carry a decent premium, however, and I don't think they're that common, but the market is quite thin. Maybe one day people will start collecting art bars more seriously and then their rarity will bring much higher prices. Till then, I'm interested in them because they are not common, and most are quite beautiful. Plus they tend to satisfy my numismatic cravings. After all, if all we had to collect were SAEs, I think bullion would get old fast. I'd like to know about all the Italian bars, however. They are quite scarce. And I've never seen a RefineMet bar before.

I did notice I have another bar with the weird trademark on it like the poured piece above: Gold Market, whatever that means, but it is Italian:

1jester

Here are some more Italian one ounce bars, obviously from a series. I still can't decipher the jeweler's marks on them. But they're quite beautiful.

Ciccio

Hey 1jester! How are you doing, sir?
The baby is fine (the sonogram was an amazing experience).

Beautiful bars, as always! I love italian bars
Can you believe that are not that common in Italy? I asked few collectors and B&Ms and they knew nothing.

I bought a silver bar made by Intercoin. It's Ag 925/1000, 59 grams and has few landmarks of Florence on it. Very nice, will post pics later on.
They had also the Lingottino della Fortuna, but it was damaged and I didn't like it.

Geotovore

I like those 10s and 5s on the left.

1jester

Thank you, Geotovore! I like your avatar too.

Here's another Madison Mint bar, this time commemorating Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in 1927.





And another bunch of vintage Italian bars (and one new German), this time 100 grams each. I've got to decipher the jeweler's marks on them, but I already think the last two letters are codes for a particular city. Believe it or not, all the bars are of different dimensions.





I already have this in 25 and 50 gram sizes.

Ciccio

1Jester, You always surprise me!



<< <i>
And another bunch of vintage Italian bars (and one new German), this time 100 grams each. I've got to decipher the jeweler's marks on them, but I already think the last two letters are codes for a particular city. Believe it or not, all the bars are of different dimensions.

>>


You are right, VR is the abbreviation of Verona.


>>



>>


What's in the back of this? I love Degussa's bars with plain back.

Ciao,MM

Ciccio

<< <i>

>>



Hey Mike, what do you think of my newp?
59.50 grams of 925/1000 Silver. Not a Pamp though.

1jester

I think it's beautiful!! And your photographic skills are also impressive.

1jester

I'm happy to announce the arrival of the first batch of the first all-Polish silver bars, completely designed and manufactured in Poland, by the Silver Mint of Poland, a brand new enterprise. Here.. Mintage of this initial run is limited to 2000 bars, and they are dated 2010 to correspond with the date of production.