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Johnson Matthey — a refiner that left the bullion market in 2015
Number of products: 1
Who Johnson Matthey was in bullion
Johnson Matthey refined gold and silver for more than 160 years, and its bars are among the most widely recognised in the secondary market. The company left the business in the middle of the last decade: in December 2014 it agreed to sell its gold and silver refining operations to Asahi Holdings for £118 million, and the sale completed by the end of March 2015. The operations covered a refinery in Salt Lake City, a refinery in Brampton, Ontario, and investment casting in St Catharines, Ontario.
What that means when you buy
No new Johnson Matthey bullion bars are being produced. Everything on the market is secondary stock, which has two practical consequences: supply of any given weight is irregular, and condition varies more than with current production. The metal content is unaffected — a Johnson Matthey bar carries the fine weight and fineness stamped on it, and trades on that basis.
Points to check on a secondary bar
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Stamped weight and fineness | This is what the bar trades on, not the brand |
| Serial number | Present on many, though not all, formats |
| Surface condition | Secondary bars often show handling marks; this affects nothing but appearance |
Where to look next
Compare current production in our gold bars and silver bars categories, or check today’s quotation on the gold price page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Johnson Matthey still make bullion bars?
No. It sold its gold and silver refining business to Asahi Holdings — announced in December 2014 and completed by the end of March 2015. Everything available now is secondary stock.
Are Johnson Matthey bars still worth the same?
A bar trades on its fine weight and fineness, both of which are stamped on it. The brand does not change the metal content.
Where were the bars refined?
The divested operations were a refinery in Salt Lake City in the United States and a refinery in Brampton, Ontario, with investment casting in St Catharines, Ontario.
