Asahi Refining is the newest refinery in the global precious metals industry. The company has a long history in Japan, but its global profile has been limited to date. As of December 2014, the company has been working to expand its offerings for investors. Among the variety of weights available in silver bars, the 1 oz. and 10 oz. weights are extremely popular. Investors prefer these two weights because of their flexibility and value. Its easier to purchase 1 oz and 10 oz bars because their pricing points are lower than larger bars, and their smaller size makes it easier to transport and store the bars. Asahi Refining recently emerged on the global stage after its December 2014 purchase of Johnson Mattheys 160-plus-year-old silver and gold refining operations. The English company exited the industry in favor of focusing on other financial sectors. Asahi has been working feverishly to produce its own lineup of silver bars amidst a market that is experiencing unprecedented demand. On the obverse face of the 10 oz Asahi Silver Bar is the image of the new Asahi Metals logo, along with engravings that run from top to bottom and include the mints name, the bars purity, metal content, and weight.