1g PAMP Suisse Lunar Gold Bar

Zodiac-Themed Gold from Switzerland's Foremost Art Bar Refinery

The 1g PAMP Suisse Lunar gold bar pairs investment-grade gold with the Chinese zodiac, featuring a different animal each year in detailed minted relief. Produced by PAMP (Produits Artistiques Metaux Precieux) in Castel San Pietro, Switzerland, each bar contains one gram of 9999 fine gold sealed in PAMP's distinctive red CertiPAMP tamper-evident assay card with a unique serial number.

PAMP's Lunar series has run through two cycles. The original Lunar Calendar Series (2012-2023) completed a full 12-year Chinese zodiac rotation from Dragon through Rabbit, with each year's bar depicting the corresponding animal. In 2024, PAMP launched the Lunar Legend Series, a creative reboot that shifts from simple zodiac animal depictions to the mythological stories behind each creature. The 2024 release features the Azure Dragon, the 2025 bar depicts the White Snake legend of Bai Suzhen, and the 2026 bar shows the Horse. This second cycle is expected to run through 2035.

The 1g size is the smallest gold Lunar bar PAMP produces. It serves primarily as a gift product, particularly for Chinese New Year celebrations where the zodiac animal of the incoming year has special significance. The bar is too small for cost-efficient gold accumulation (premiums at 1g run 8-15% above spot), but the combination of PAMP's brand, the zodiac design, and the compact format makes it a popular choice for occasional gifting and collecting.

Compared to PAMP's flagship 1g Lady Fortuna bar, the Lunar bar carries a modest collectible premium reflecting the annual design changes and themed appeal. For buyers who want 1g of PAMP gold at the lowest possible premium, the Fortuna is the more cost-effective choice. For those who value the zodiac theme or are buying for a specific Chinese New Year, the Lunar bar adds cultural and collectible dimensions that a generic design does not.

PAMP Lunar 1g Gold Bar Details

Lunar Calendar Series Zodiac Animals (2012-2023)

The Lunar Legend Series (2024 onwards) draws from Chinese mythology and folklore, giving each release narrative depth beyond the zodiac animal itself. The Azure Dragon (2024) represents the guardian of the east associated with spring and rain; the White Snake (2025) tells the story of Bai Suzhen, a tale of wisdom, transformation, and prosperity.

Each CertiPAMP assay card displays the bar's weight, purity, metal content, serial number, and certified assayer's signature. The card design is consistent across PAMP's product lines, though Veriscan digital authentication technology (available on Lady Fortuna bars since 2017) has not been confirmed as available on the Lunar series at the 1g size.

PAMP Lunar 1g Gold Bar Tax Treatment

PAMP Lunar bars are private-refinery products with no legal tender status in any jurisdiction. Tax treatment follows standard investment gold rules for a .9999 fine bar from an LBMA-accredited refinery.

• United Kingdom: VAT-exempt on purchase as investment gold. Subject to CGT at 18-24% on disposal, with a £3,000 annual allowance. No CGT exemption applies (bars are not UK legal tender). For UK buyers wanting lunar-themed gold with CGT exemption, the Royal Mint's Lunar Year coin series (UK legal tender) provides that benefit, though not at the 1g size.
• United States: No federal sales tax; state sales tax varies. IRA-eligible (.9999 gold from an LBMA refiner meets IRS purity requirements). Capital gains taxed at up to 28% as a collectible for long-term holdings.
• European Union: VAT-exempt under the Investment Gold Directive (gold bars at 995+ fine).
• Switzerland: VAT-exempt for investment gold. PAMP bars can be purchased directly from GOLDAVENUE (PAMP's own retail platform).
• Canada: GST/HST-exempt (gold at 99.5%+ purity).
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme. The Lunar theme has particular cultural resonance for Chinese New Year gifting in Singapore's Chinese-majority population.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax. Strong market for lunar-themed gold products around Chinese New Year.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for fine gold bullion at 99.5%+ purity.

PAMP Lunar vs Other Themed and Standard 1g Bars

The PAMP Lunar bar sits at the intersection of investment bullion and collectible themed product. Its natural comparisons are other PAMP series, other lunar-themed bullion, and standard 1g bars from competing refiners.

The 1g PAMP Rosa bar is another themed PAMP product, featuring a detailed rose design. Both carry the same 999.9 purity and CertiPAMP packaging. The Rosa bar has a permanent design, meaning no annual variation and no zodiac-collecting dimension. The Lunar bar appeals to buyers who value the yearly design changes and Chinese cultural significance; the Rosa bar appeals to those who want PAMP's artistic presentation without the time-specific theming.

The 1g PAMP Fortuna bar is PAMP's flagship and the most liquid 1g gold bar globally. The Fortuna typically trades at a lower premium than Lunar bars because it lacks the collectible overlay. For buyers focused on getting the most gold for their money under the PAMP brand, the Fortuna is the practical choice. The Lunar bar justifies its higher premium through design appeal and the collecting incentive of completing zodiac sets.

Outside PAMP, the Perth Mint's Lunar coin series is the most prominent competitor for zodiac-themed gold. Perth Mint Lunar coins have a longer track record (since 1996, across three generations) and carry Australian legal tender status, giving them potential tax advantages in jurisdictions where legal tender coins receive preferential treatment. Perth Mint does not produce Lunar coins at the 1g size, but does offer 1g Kangaroo minted gold bars. For a zodiac-themed 1g product specifically, the PAMP Lunar bar has the field largely to itself.

Against standard unbranded 1g bars, the PAMP Lunar carries a premium for the PAMP name, the themed design, and the CertiPAMP packaging. A 1g Valcambi bar or 1g Metalor bar will deliver the same gram of gold at a lower cost. The question is whether the Lunar design's aesthetic and cultural value, plus its mild collectible appeal, justifies the additional outlay for the buyer.