100g PAMP Suisse Lunar Gold Bar

The 100g PAMP Lunar Gold Bar

The 100g PAMP Suisse Lunar gold bar combines investment-grade bullion with Chinese zodiac art from one of Switzerland's most recognised refineries. Each year's release features a different animal from the twelve-year zodiac cycle, making the Lunar range one of the few bar products where the specific vintage affects collector interest and, occasionally, the premium.

PAMP Suisse (Produits Artistiques Metaux Precieux) was founded in 1977 in Ticino, Switzerland, and was the first company to produce artistic minted gold bars. The refinery holds LBMA accreditation and is part of the MKS PAMP Group. All Lunar bars are struck from 999.9 fine gold, individually serialised, and sealed in PAMP's distinctive red CertiPAMP tamper-evident assay cards.

Two distinct Lunar series exist. The original Lunar Calendar Series ran from 2012 to 2023, covering one complete twelve-year zodiac cycle from Dragon through Rabbit. The Lunar Legend Series, which began in 2024, shifts the artistic focus from straightforward zodiac animal depictions to the mythological stories behind each creature. The 2024 release features the Azure Dragon; the 2025 release depicts the White Snake drawn from the tale of Bai Suzhen, a story of wisdom, transformation, and prosperity. The Legend series is expected to run through 2035.

At 100 grams, this is the largest standard gold weight in the PAMP Lunar range. The 100g format is popular across European bullion markets and offers premiums in the 2-4% range over spot, placing it among the more cost-efficient retail gold sizes. The Lunar design commands a modest premium above PAMP's non-themed bars such as the 100g Fortuna, reflecting the collectible dimension of the zodiac theme.

PAMP Lunar 100g Gold Bar Specifications

Veriscan Authentication

Since 2017, PAMP bars include Veriscan anti-counterfeiting technology, which has received LBMA Security Feature accreditation. The system maps the microscopic surface topography of each bar at the production line and stores it in PAMP's database. Buyers can verify their bar via two methods: a Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II with PAMP's bullion-positioning frame, or the Veriscan iOS app which scans the bar's surface through sealed packaging and returns a pass or fail result. Pre-2017 Lunar bars lack Veriscan but retain serial numbers and CertiPAMP packaging.

Lunar Calendar Series (2012-2023)

Lunar Legend Series (2024 onwards)

Tax Treatment of the 100g PAMP Lunar Gold Bar

The 100g PAMP Lunar bar is a refined gold bar, not legal tender. Its 999.9 purity qualifies it for investment gold exemptions in all major bullion markets, but it carries no CGT advantages that legal tender coins receive in certain jurisdictions.

• United Kingdom: VAT-exempt as investment gold (purity exceeds the 995 threshold). Subject to Capital Gains Tax at 18% or 24% on profits above the GBP 3,000 annual allowance. Not CGT-exempt, since only UK legal tender coins qualify for that exemption. UK buyers wanting lunar-themed gold with CGT exemption should consider Royal Mint Lunar coins instead. SIPP-eligible for pension investment.
• United States: No federal sales tax. State sales tax exemptions apply in most states. IRA-eligible: PAMP is an LBMA-accredited refiner and the bar meets the 99.5% purity threshold. Long-term gains taxed at the collectibles rate (up to 28%).
• European Union: VAT-exempt as investment gold under Directive 98/80/EC. CGT varies by country. In Germany, gains are tax-free after holding for one year.
• Canada: GST/HST-exempt on gold bars at 99.5%+ purity. RRSP and TFSA-eligible through approved custodians.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold (99.5%+ purity). CGT applies, with a 50% discount for holdings exceeding 12 months.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for gold bars at 99.5%+ purity.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals (IPM) scheme. No capital gains tax. PAMP bars have strong availability through Singapore dealers including BullionStar.
• Hong Kong: No VAT, no import duty, no capital gains tax. The Lunar zodiac theme has particular cultural resonance in Hong Kong and across Chinese-speaking markets, making these bars popular for Chinese New Year gifting.
• South Africa: Investment gold is VAT-exempt. CGT at a 40% inclusion rate for individuals.

PAMP Lunar vs Fortuna, Perth Mint Lunar, and Argor-Heraeus

The 100g PAMP Lunar competes in two markets simultaneously: as a 100g investment gold bar against other Swiss refiner products, and as a lunar-themed collectible against coins from sovereign mints. These two competitive angles produce different trade-offs.

Against the 100g PAMP Fortuna bar, the Lunar version carries a higher premium because of the annual zodiac design and limited-edition character. Both are 999.9 gold from the same refinery, with identical Veriscan authentication and CertiPAMP packaging. The Fortuna is PAMP's bread-and-butter product with the iconic Lady Fortuna motif, available in larger quantities and with better liquidity on the secondary market. The Lunar bar appeals to buyers who value the collectible angle or want a culturally meaningful gift for Chinese New Year.

Against the 100g Valcambi bar, the premium gap widens further. Valcambi (the world's largest precious metals refinery by capacity, processing 2,000 metric tonnes annually) prioritises cost efficiency over design. For buyers focused purely on maximising gold per dollar, Valcambi bars represent better value. The PAMP Lunar trades at a premium for brand recognition, Veriscan technology, and the zodiac artwork.

Against lunar-themed coins from sovereign mints, the trade-off shifts to tax treatment. Perth Mint produces three generations of Lunar coins (Series I: 1996-2007, Series II: 2008-2019, Series III: 2020-2031) as legal tender in Australian dollars. These coins can carry CGT advantages in jurisdictions where legal tender status matters. Perth Mint's Lunar history extends back to 1996, giving it a 16-year head start over PAMP's 2012 launch. The PAMP bar's advantage is lower per-gram premiums than equivalent-weight Perth Mint coins.

The 100g Argor-Heraeus bar and 100g Kinebar are fellow Swiss LBMA-accredited products at 999.9 purity. Argor-Heraeus bars use Kinegram holographic technology (optically self-verifying, no equipment required), compared with PAMP's database-dependent Veriscan system. Standard Argor-Heraeus bars and Kinebars do not change design annually, which means lower premiums but no collectible dimension.