When you buy a silver bar from a recognised refiner, it arrives sealed and accompanied by a certificate. These elements are not mere formalities: they determine the value and resale of your bar. Here is the explanation.
The seal (certified blister)
Modern minted bars are delivered in a sealed, tamper-proof packaging, often a transparent blister card (such as CertiPAMP at PAMP, “CertiCard” or equivalents elsewhere). This seal serves two roles:
- Protecting the bar physically (scratches, surface oxidation, handling);
- Certifying: it states the weight, the fineness (999.0), and a unique serial number, acting as a built-in certificate of authenticity.
A bar that has stayed in its original seal is the easiest to resell: the buyer immediately sees that it has not been altered.
The certificate of authenticity
For the larger formats (bars of 1 kg and up), a separate certificate sometimes accompanies the bar. It repeats:
- the refiner’s name;
- the weight and the fineness;
- the serial number, which must match the one engraved on the bar and on the seal.
This match (bar ↔ seal ↔ certificate) is a key element of traceability. Always check that the numbers coincide, a point detailed in our article on bar hallmarks.
The LBMA “Good Delivery” reference
The LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) maintains the Good Delivery List: the list of refineries whose bars are accepted without question on the world market. A bar from an LBMA-accredited refiner enjoys a presumption of quality (purity, weight, traceability) that makes it very liquid.
Note one nuance: “Good Delivery” originally refers to a wholesale standard (large bars for the interbank market). In everyday language, the refiner’s LBMA accreditation is used as a mark of seriousness for all its investment products. How these refineries operate is described in silver foundry.
Why these documents protect your value
- On resale, a sealed and certified bar avoids the “doubt discount”: the buyer does not have to fund a reanalysis.
- During an authenticity check, the serial number and certificate make verification easier (see spotting a fake bar).
- For tax purposes, keeping the invoice + certificate lets you justify the price and date of acquisition, useful for the VAT and taxation regime on resale.
Should you open the seal?
As a general rule, no. Opening the blister of a minted bar makes it lose part of its resale advantage (the buyer will have to re-check it). Keep the bar in its original packaging, safely stored, with its certificate and invoice. For a large cast bar, the key is to keep the certificate and invoice intact.
In summary
- The seal protects and certifies (weight, fineness, serial number).
- The certificate doubles the traceability; its numbers must match the bar.
- The refiner’s LBMA accreditation guarantees quality and liquidity.
- Keep the seal, certificate and invoice: they avoid the doubt discount and are useful for resale.
Ready to buy a certified bar or have yours appraised? Check the silver price and request a free valuation.
This article is informational and does not constitute investment advice.