5 kg Silver Bar | Various Manufacturers | LBMA

5 kg silver bar — 999 fineness

A cast silver bar of 5000 g, about 160.75 troy ounces. It is made by a refiner on the LBMA Good Delivery List, for which the minimum silver fineness is 999. The bar ships in foil with a serial number struck into the metal.

Technical specification

A cast bar — what that changes

Silver bars from 250 g upwards are made by pouring molten metal into a mould rather than striking it from strip. The result is visible: a matte, uneven surface, rounded edges, and slight variation in shape from one piece to the next. That is a property of the process, not a defect.

Casting costs less than striking, so the markup over the metal price on large silver bars sits well below that of coins or small minted bars. In exchange divisibility is gone — the bar sells as a whole.

Five kilograms of silver — what that means in practice

Five kilograms is about 160.75 troy ounces. It is one of the largest silver bars in retail trade and the format with the lowest markup over the metal price in the whole silver range.

The cost is a lack of divisibility and the mass itself: a five kilo bar needs a considered storage spot and will not fit an ordinary document box. The producer varies with the delivery — always a refiner on the LBMA Good Delivery List, for which the minimum silver fineness is 999.

What to check before buying

Silver reacts with sulphur in the air and develops a patina over time — golden at first, later grey and blue-black. This does not affect the metal value, but on resale a piece with an even, untouched surface is valued above a blotchy one. The original packaging is therefore best left closed.

Store silver dry and away from rubber, wool and recycled cardboard, all of which release sulphur compounds. Do not clean the surface with silver polish or polishing cloths: they remove a thin layer of metal along with the patina.

VAT on silver

Silver falls outside the exemption that covers gold bullion in Poland under Article 122 of the VAT Act. The silver price includes 23 percent VAT — this applies to bars and bullion coins alike, and to platinum and palladium as well.

It is one reason silver has to move further than gold before a sale covers its cost. It is worth keeping in mind when comparing prices of the two metals.

Why GoldInvest24

We source silver only from LBMA-accredited producers and state mints, in the manufacturer's original packaging. Every shipment is insured and packed discreetly, with no markings indicating the contents. We also run a gold and silver buyback. Current quotes are on our silver price page.

Silver formats we stock

Frequently asked questions

Is VAT charged on silver?

Yes. Silver falls outside the exemption that applies in Poland to gold bullion under Article 122 of the VAT Act. The price includes 23 percent tax. The same applies to platinum and palladium.

How much fine silver does this item contain?

A fineness of 999 means that of 1000 parts of the alloy, 999 are pure silver. At 5000 g the metal content is effectively the same as the total weight.

Why is there no certificate?

On cast silver bars that is standard. The identifying data — weight, fineness and refinery name — are struck directly into the metal, and the bar is sealed in the maker's foil.

Does patina reduce the value?

Not the metal value — weight and fineness are unchanged. It does affect the buyback price, since a piece with an even surface is valued above a blotchy one.

Do you buy silver back?

Yes, we buy back gold and silver. The buyback price follows the current metal quote, the condition of the surface and whether the maker's packaging is intact.