Engelhard Silver Company



ALLENGELHARD is dedicated to the presentation and preservation of all things Engelhard. Here, you will enjoy Engelhard biographical and company history, spanning from when Charles W. Engelhard, Senior, founded the company in 1902, and continuing to German chemical company BASF’s acquisition in 2006. You’ll find definitive information on all common production bars and the increasingly more rare ‘legacy’ ingots. We present examples from many private collections, and information regarding their approximate mintage, specifications, and unique characteristics. All Engelhard is dedicated to continued research and is proud to serve as the premier resource of Engelhard information and grateful custodian of its history.

We are a group of ingot collectors that have come together to bring forth and maintain a much-needed resource of Engelhard information in response to the blustering growth of the collector community. Our group has a diverse background of collecting, spanning decades, and includes members from various parts of the world, including Australia, Great Britain, Netherlands, Canada and the United States. The core of pieces presented are owned by several members of our collector group and have been shared amongst one another for study in each collector’s field of expertise. These fields include knowledge of ingot dimension and casting distinction, font study, strike characteristics, surface finish and toning, and of course photography.

  • This is the side of the bar exposed while the 100 oz Engelhard Silver Bar cools. Today, Engelhard Corporation is now owned by a German chemical manufacturer. The international BASF company bought Engelhard for $5 billion in 2006.
  • Engelhard 100 Ounce Extruded Silver Bar -.999+ Fine. Nice old poured bar. Great eye appeal. This is a stock item. You will not receive the bar in the image but will recieve a similar looking bar. Checks. All check orders must be postmarked for delivery within one (1) business day. Returns. There are no returns on bullion related coins.

We are here only to celebrate, explore and validate the hobby of ingot collecting and are not advising the purchase of precious metals as an investment. Our goal is simply to provide one consolidated and comprehensive resource of information for ingot collectors, as we pay tribute and homage to the greatest precious metals refiner the world has known. We hope you enjoy your visit!

Engelhard Silver Prospector The First Silver Round

The .999 pure silver Prospector from Engelhard is without question the most well known and trusted silver round ever produced. Most people who collect coins and especially those who are interested in investing in precious metals are familiar with the Engelhard name.

Engelhard was once an American owned fortune 500 company and is now a German manufacturer BASF. Engelhard produces investment quality platinum, palladium, silver and gold and is the world’s largest precious metals refinery. Date Metal Price per troy oz; Friday, December 04, 2020 AG $28.91 Thursday, December 03, 2020. By the late 1950s, Engelhard Industries was a giant in the precious metals game, fabricating millions of dollars worth of gold and silver. With smart leadership, savvy mergers, and innovative products, the company became a force to be reckoned with.

“Engelhard” is equivalent to strict standards and high quality. The name gives both buyers and sellers of silver confidence in the silver rounds value – or at the least it will convey more confidence than other silver rounds.

In the late 1970s Engelhard, Johnson-Matthey and several other silver refineries started manufacturing silver bullion for sale to investors and collectors. In the beginning it was almost entirely 10 and 100 ounce bars. But soon numerous companies were offering smaller units.

Engelhard Silver Prospector The First Silver Round

1 oz Engelhard Prospector Silver Round

Engelhard was actually the first silver refinery to produce silver bullion in a round, coin-like shape. The first Silver Round was the Engelhard Prospector. The obverse of the Silver Prospector shows a prospector kneeling by a stream, panning for gold. Several designs were used for the reverse.

The Engelhard 1-ounce silver Prospector was produced for only 6 years, from 1982 to 1988 and bear the dates 1983 – 1987. Despite it’s short production run the Prospector has become one of the most trusted and well-known silver rounds completely dominating the market. In fact, even today people from all around the world would be more likely to recognize a silver Prospector than any other silver round.

Because of the Engelhard reputation, silver Prospectors generally sell at higher premiums when compared to silver rounds from other companies like Sunshine, APMEX, Disney, and Silvertowne. There can be exceptions though so keep a look out. If you are searching through one of those mixed silver round baskets/trays you may see Prospectors at the same price as other silver rounds.

Engelhard Bullion

Canadian Silver Prospector

The Canadian Silver Prospector was released in a special collector’s box in 1987. The obverse shows the familiar prospector panning in the stream. The reverse displays a Canada Goose. I have read that people have seen the Canadian Silver Prospector with an Eagle on the reverse. The only photo I found shows a goose.

It seems that there is little to no information “out there” about the Canadian Silver Prospector. On one site I read that they were struck in the late 1970s. Yet on another I found that they were produced 1985 – 1986. It is assumed that Engelhard melted it’s stock of Canadian Silver Prospectors in order to produce other bars and silver rounds.

The final result is that the Canadian Silver Prospector is one mysterious and sought after collectible.

Canadian Silver Prospector

More Information & Resources about the Silver Prospector:

Engelhard

Be wary of Counterfeit Silver Prospectors!

“There have been a number of plated bars and rounds offered on eBay for several years now, and it is our goal to educate collectors, so that they may spot suspect bars and protect themselves. Despite several aggressive campaigns to have these listings removed, eBay has failed the collector community by not taking necessary action to keep the marketplace safe and protect its members…”

All Engelhard page for counterfeit commercial bars and rounds

Written by Beauregard J. Finnegan Esq. & Copyright 2014 CoinCollectorGuide.com


Engelhard Silver Company Gold


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