10g PAMP Suisse Gold Bar

The Standard-Bearer of Swiss Minted Gold

The 10g PAMP Suisse gold bar is a plain minted bar from PAMP (Produits Artistiques Metaux Precieux), the Swiss refiner that created the entire category of decorative minted bullion bars in 1979. This is the standard PAMP bar, carrying the PAMP Suisse logo, weight and purity markings, serial number, and assayer's mark. It should not be confused with the 10g PAMP Fortuna, which features the iconic Lady Fortuna design on the reverse and typically commands a higher premium.

At 999.9 fine gold and sealed in PAMP's tamper-evident CertiPAMP assay packaging, this bar carries the same refiner credentials and authentication infrastructure as the Fortuna range. PAMP is LBMA-accredited and part of the MKS PAMP GROUP, a vertically integrated precious metals operation spanning mining, refining, and trading. The bar's serial number is recorded on the assay certificate, and bars bearing the VeriScan logo on their packaging can be verified through PAMP's smartphone app, which reads the microscopic surface topography of the bar against a database record.

The 10g format measures 26.5 x 15.8 x 1.25 mm, roughly half the size of a credit card. At approximately $1,000-$1,100 in gold value, it sits at the same price point as a 1/4 oz gold coin, though the bar contains slightly more gold (10g versus 7.78g in a quarter-ounce). The tradeoff is that 1/4 oz gold coins from sovereign mints tend to carry better liquidity and brand recognition in markets where troy ounce denominations dominate.

PAMP bars carry the highest brand premiums in the minted bar market. For the plain (non-Fortuna) bar, the premium is lower than the Fortuna variant but still above generic LBMA bars from refiners like Valcambi or Metalor. Buyers who want the PAMP refiner name and CertiPAMP packaging without paying the additional Fortuna design premium may find this bar a reasonable middle ground.

10g PAMP Suisse Gold Bar Specifications

PAMP Suisse Minted Gold Bar Range

PAMP produces minted gold bars across a wide range of sizes, all in 999.9 fine gold. The 10g bar sits in the middle of the retail range.

PAMP also produces cast bars, which have a rougher, hand-poured finish and carry lower premiums than the minted range. Cast bars are available in larger sizes but are a distinct product from the minted bars covered here.

10g PAMP Suisse Gold Bar Tax Treatment by Country

The 10g PAMP Suisse bar qualifies for investment gold tax exemptions wherever they exist. At 999.9 purity from an LBMA-accredited refiner, it exceeds every major jurisdiction's purity threshold. As a bar with no face value and no legal tender status, it receives bar-specific tax treatment, which differs from coins in certain countries.

• United Kingdom: VAT-exempt on purchase as investment gold. Subject to Capital Gains Tax on profits at 18% (basic rate) or 24% (higher rate), with a GBP 3,000 annual allowance. Gold bars lack CGT exemption in the UK. UK investors making capital gains above the allowance will find 1oz Britannia coins more tax-efficient, as UK legal tender coins are CGT-free.
• United States: IRA-eligible. PAMP's 999.9 purity and LBMA accreditation satisfy IRS requirements under Section 408(m) for self-directed precious metals IRAs. Must be held by an approved custodian. Outside an IRA, long-term gains taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28%. Sales of 25 or more 1 oz bars in a single transaction trigger 1099-B reporting requirements. Most states exempt investment bullion from sales tax.
• European Union: VAT-exempt as investment gold under EU Council Directive 98/80/EC across all member states.
• Switzerland: No VAT on investment gold. PAMP's home market, with particularly strong dealer availability.
• Canada: GST/HST-exempt for gold of 99.5%+ purity. Eligible for RRSP and TFSA registered accounts through approved custodians.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold. CGT applies on disposal, with a 50% discount for assets held longer than 12 months.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals scheme. PAMP has a significant presence in the Singapore market. No capital gains tax.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, import duty, or capital gains tax on gold bullion.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for fine gold of 99.5%+ purity.
• South Africa: 15% VAT applies to gold bars. The gold Krugerrand zero-rating does not extend to bars from foreign refiners.

PAMP Standard Bar vs Fortuna, Valcambi, and Perth Mint at 10g

The 10g PAMP Suisse standard bar occupies a specific niche: buyers who want the PAMP refiner name and CertiPAMP packaging but not the additional premium of the Fortuna design. Understanding what sits above and below it in the market helps clarify the value proposition.

The 10g PAMP Fortuna is the same refiner, same purity, same CertiPAMP packaging, with the addition of the Lady Fortuna reverse design and guaranteed VeriScan authentication. The Fortuna commands a higher premium, driven by collector demand and the design's status as the most widely recognised motif in the minted bar market. For buyers who plan to resell, the Fortuna's stronger secondary-market demand may justify the extra cost. For those buying purely for gold content, the standard bar delivers the same metal at a lower price.

The 10g Valcambi gold bar consistently offers the lowest premiums among the major Swiss refiners. Valcambi, the world's largest precious metals refinery by volume, produces clean functional bars without the design premiums that PAMP commands. Both are Swiss, both are LBMA-accredited, and both produce 999.9 fine bars. The premium difference between Valcambi and the PAMP standard bar is the cost of the PAMP brand name and CertiPAMP packaging system.

The 10g Perth Mint gold bar offers government backing from the Western Australian government, a feature no private Swiss refiner can match. Perth Mint bars include their own CertiCard packaging with a kangaroo security hologram. Premiums tend to fall between Valcambi and PAMP, making the Perth Mint bar competitive for buyers who value sovereign-mint provenance.

The 10g Metalor gold bar is another Swiss LBMA refiner with institutional credentials, including LBMA Good Delivery referee panel membership and globally distributed production. Metalor bars trade at competitive premiums, typically below PAMP but in line with the broader Swiss refiner market. At 10g, Metalor does not carry its BullionProtect security ink (available on bars 20g and above), which may be a consideration for security-conscious buyers.

At the 10g weight, premiums across all these brands tend to fall in the 8-12% range over spot. The absolute differences in premium between brands are relatively small at this size, measured in tens of dollars rather than hundreds. For buyers with the budget to step up to 50g gold bars, the premium improvement is dramatic, dropping to 3-6% and representing the sharpest efficiency gain in the gram bar range.