1g Asahi Refining Lunar Gold Bar

Zodiac-Themed Gold from an LBMA Refiner

The 1g Asahi Lunar gold bar is part of Asahi Refining's Chinese Lunar Calendar series, which launched in August 2023 with the 2024 Year of the Dragon design. The series follows the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle, with a new animal motif each year. Gold bar variants (1g, 2.5g, and 1 oz) were introduced for the 2025 Year of the Snake, expanding from the silver-only initial release.

Asahi Refining holds both LBMA Good Delivery and COMEX-approved status, inherited through its 2015 acquisition of Johnson Matthey's gold and silver refining businesses. The refiner operates facilities in Salt Lake City (Utah), Brampton (Canada), and an ISO 9001:2015 mint in Miami (Florida). This institutional backing distinguishes the Asahi Lunar from purely collectible or novelty zodiac products.

At 1 gram, this bar occupies the entry-level price point for physical gold. The economics of 1g gold bars are driven by gifting and low-budget entry rather than accumulation efficiency, with premiums typically ranging from 8-15% over spot. The zodiac theme adds gift appeal, particularly for Lunar New Year celebrations, where gold is a traditional and auspicious gift.

The Lunar Calendar series is still young, with only two zodiac animals released so far (Dragon for 2024, Snake for 2025). If Asahi continues through the full 12-year cycle, the series would run through 2035. This early-stage status means the series lacks the collector following and secondary market depth of established competitors like the Perth Mint Lunar range, but it also means current releases have the potential appeal of being early editions in a multi-year programme.

Asahi Lunar 1g Gold Bar Specifications

Design

The obverse displays the debossed Asahi Refining logo on a reverse-proof finished background, with inscriptions for the weight, purity, and "Lunar Calendar Series" designation. The reverse changes annually to feature the zodiac animal for that year.

The 2024 Dragon reverse depicts a dragon entwined around a Cypress Tree, symbolising growth, prosperity, and strength associated with the Wood Dragon year. The 2025 Snake reverse shows a snake hanging from a tree branch, accented with plum blossoms and lanterns representing good fortune.

Each bar carries the Asahi Refining logo and weight/purity markings struck directly into the metal. The bar is available in tamper-evident assay card packaging with an accompanying assay certificate, or in tube/bulk formats without individual packaging.

Tax Treatment for the Asahi Lunar 1g Gold Bar

The 999.9 purity qualifies this bar as investment gold across all major markets. It is not legal tender and carries no face value.

United Kingdom

Gold bars at 995+ purity are VAT-exempt under the Investment Gold Exemption. Gold bars are not CGT-exempt in the UK. Only UK legal tender coins carry the CGT exemption. Gains above the annual £3,000 allowance are taxable. The bar qualifies for SIPP pension inclusion based on purity.

United States

This bar is IRA-eligible. Asahi's LBMA and COMEX accreditation combined with 999.9 purity satisfies the IRS Section 408(m) requirements. State sales tax exemptions apply in approximately 35 states, with threshold-based exemptions in California ($2,000), Florida ($500), New York ($1,000), and several others.

Canada

Asahi operates refining facilities in Brampton, Ontario. Gold at 99.5%+ purity is GST/HST-exempt. Canadian capital gains follow the 50% inclusion rate.

European Union

Investment gold at 995+ purity is VAT-exempt under the EU Investment Gold Directive.

Asia-Pacific

• Australia: GST-free for investment gold at 99.5%+ purity
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for gold at 99.5%+ purity
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals scheme. No capital gains tax.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax. Strong demand for zodiac-themed gold due to cultural affinity with the Chinese zodiac.

Asahi Lunar vs Other Zodiac-Themed Gold Bars

The Chinese zodiac gold market has several established producers, and the Asahi Lunar series enters as a newcomer with institutional credentials but limited track record.

The dominant competitor at any weight is the Perth Mint Lunar series, which has been running since 1996 and has completed three full 12-year cycles. Perth Mint Lunars are government-backed (Western Australian Government), carry legal tender status, strike at 999.9 purity, and have a deep collector following that supports secondary market premiums. At the 1g weight, Perth Mint bars carry noticeably higher premiums than Asahi. The Asahi Lunar positions itself as a lower-premium alternative from an LBMA-certified refiner for buyers who want the zodiac theme without paying Perth Mint prices.

PAMP Suisse also produces lunar zodiac bars in gold. PAMP commands the highest premiums in the small gold bar market thanks to Swiss branding, the CertiPAMP authentication system, and the cachet of the Fortuna heritage. The 1g PAMP Fortuna remains the most liquid small gold bar regardless of theme, and PAMP's lunar bars trade at a further premium above that baseline. Asahi offers similar themes at more competitive pricing.

The 1g Emirates Gold Chinese Lunar bar provides another option in this space, produced in Dubai for the Gulf and Asian markets. Emirates Gold holds LBMA Associate Supplier status (a lower tier than Asahi's full Good Delivery accreditation).

Asahi's key advantages are its LBMA Good Delivery and COMEX-approved status, IRA eligibility for US investors, and North American manufacturing base. For buyers in the US and Canada who want a zodiac-themed gold bar at a competitive price from a refiner with institutional credibility, the Asahi Lunar series fills a gap between premium Swiss products and generic refiner bars.