What value do COAs and serial numbers add to kilo bars?
- Thread starter SpacePete
- Start date
Serials are merely for the owner to keep records rather than any central bar registry as far as I'm aware. Not really worth any extra premium per se. Same goes with a COA, just something else you need to store and if someone is going to the effort of faking a bar, then a certificate isn't too hard to punch out either. PAMP, PM, Scottsdale, Engelhard, etc all carry a premium because their brands are recognised as being good quality, dependable and are easy to liquidate.
heheheSilverPete said:
Like I said, individual owners can keep track of the bars they own. Therefore they can be useful in that scenario if buyers are on the lookout for particular serial numbers. Thieving pricks would probably melt them down anyway, so protection offered by such devices is limited. Serial numbers and COA's don't lessen the value of a kg of Silver, so if you get them it's not going to hurt. Some people swear by them but personally, I'd rather a bar pass a magnet or ultrasonic thickness test then have a bit of paper or number stamped into it.
Pirocco
Well-Known Member
Maybe that insurance applies to standard 1000 ouncer industrial / ETF / Comex bars, not these smaller/nonsuch bars.
I would pay $1 more for the serial. Ya never know if there is someone that has 1000-1005 and 1007-1015 and I have the 1006, maybe I can then sell that $1 serial for $10.
I would pay $1 more for the serial. Ya never know if there is someone that has 1000-1005 and 1007-1015 and I have the 1006, maybe I can then sell that $1 serial for $10.
Cheepo said:
Unless you read it on an insurance company policy document, then I don't believe it. If you did, go to a different company. It might be easier to prove ownership of a particular bar, but a photo of said bar or receipt of purchase, etc should fulfil the same thing. Good delivery bars, as alluded to by Pirocco are a slightly different kettle of fish but if you are regularly dealing with them you wouldn't be needing to ask for advice here.
TheBullionBoy
New Member
This is my first post. I'm in the UK. I would throw assay marks into the mix as well. Some bars are assayed in house. Some are assayed independently. Some have no hallmarks at all. I know that not every bar gets tested. A few random bars from a batch will get tested. COA's mean VERY little (an 8 year old could make one), serial numbers mean a bit more for a few reasons, but I go with bars with certified 3rd party hallmarks these days.
BiGs
Active Member
The Scottsdale stackers don't number their bars. The one you seen at the sydney meet was done by a previous owner and not the mint, I am pretty sure. I also have some perth mint 100oz with engraved serials over the front. It would be for large vaults and their own logging system.
Here is an old ABC bar I have. Serialised by the mint. Their new kilo bars are not serialised though.
[imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/12623_g54gqegdzrfg.jpg]
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Last time I purchased from ABC in Sydney I asked them what they do with pamp 1kg when they buy them from a customer without a cert. They said they pay the same for it. If has cert they will resell as is. If no cert they will chuck it over to their smelter and turn it into a ABC.
So I guess it does have a little bit of collector status, like a semi numi premium would.
Here is an old ABC bar I have. Serialised by the mint. Their new kilo bars are not serialised though.
[imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/12623_g54gqegdzrfg.jpg]
Last time I purchased from ABC in Sydney I asked them what they do with pamp 1kg when they buy them from a customer without a cert. They said they pay the same for it. If has cert they will resell as is. If no cert they will chuck it over to their smelter and turn it into a ABC.
So I guess it does have a little bit of collector status, like a semi numi premium would.
Reading this it got me wondering: how much is lost when a new bar is minted? Wouldn't some of the silver evaporate when it is melted? How much evaporates? And yes, I am sure this is a stupid question, so please forgive my ignorance (and it's 11:30, had a long day, I am tired, I don't feel well, and I drank two beers).BiGs said: