1 oz Royal Canadian Mint Lunar Gold Bar

The Royal Canadian Mint's Lunar Gold Bar

The 1 oz Lunar Gold Bar from the Royal Canadian Mint brings the Chinese zodiac theme into bar format, with .9999 fine gold and the backing of one of the world's most respected sovereign mints. The RCM has produced lunar-themed products since 1998, making it one of the longest-running lunar programme operators alongside the Perth Mint, though the two mints take fundamentally different approaches to the concept.

The RCM's lunar products lean toward the collector and premium end of the market rather than mass-produced bullion. The mint's $100 gold coin series (the current flagship lunar programme, launched in 2022) has extremely limited mintages; the 2025 Year of the Snake edition, for example, was capped at 1,888 pieces, with the number 888 chosen because 8 is considered the luckiest number in Chinese culture, symbolising wealth and prosperity. The 1 oz gold bar follows this philosophy, offering a premium product with the zodiac theme rather than a high-volume bullion item.

Each year's bar features the corresponding zodiac animal from the 12-year Chinese lunar cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The RCM commissions new designs for each cycle, so the same zodiac animal looks different across successive 12-year iterations. This annual design change adds mild collector interest that generic bars from Swiss refiners lack.

RCM Lunar 1 oz Gold Bar Details

RCM Lunar Programme Overview

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued multiple distinct lunar programmes over the decades. The $15 Sterling Silver series (1998-2009) was the first complete 12-year zodiac cycle. The $150 18-karat gold proof series covered several zodiac years for collectors. The current $100 Pure Gold coin series (2022-present) uses half an ounce of .9999 fine gold with very limited mintages. The 1 oz gold bar offers a full troy ounce in a different format, sitting between the coin programme's collector pricing and generic bar premiums.

RCM Lunar Gold Bar Tax Position

As a .9999 fine gold bar from the Royal Canadian Mint (LBMA-accredited), this product meets investment gold exemption criteria globally.

• Canada: GST/HST exempt at .9999 purity. RRSP and TFSA eligible through approved dealers. Capital gains taxed at a 50% inclusion rate (50% of the gain added to taxable income).
• UK: VAT-exempt on purchase as investment gold. Subject to CGT on disposal; not CGT-exempt because it is a bar, not UK legal tender. UK buyers seeking CGT exemption should consider 1 oz Britannia coins instead.
• USA: IRA-eligible at .9999 purity from an LBMA-accredited mint. Must be held by an IRS-approved custodian. Capital gains taxed at the 28% collectibles rate. Sales tax varies by state.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold (99.5%+ purity). CGT applies with a 50% discount for holdings over 12 months.
• EU: VAT-exempt as investment gold under the EU Gold Directive.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme. No capital gains tax.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.

RCM Lunar Bar vs Other Lunar and 1 oz Gold Bars

The lunar bullion market is dominated by the Perth Mint, whose Lunar series (now in Series III, covering 2020-2031) sets the benchmark for zodiac-themed precious metals. The RCM Lunar bar occupies a different position: smaller production runs, stronger collector orientation, and the backing of a different sovereign mint.

The Perth Mint's 1 oz gold bars are produced to meet demand with no mintage cap on the standard Kangaroo range. This means Perth bars are always available from primary market dealers and trade at predictable premiums. The RCM Lunar bar has more limited availability, which can result in wider premium variation between dealers and over time. For pure bullion accumulation, Perth offers more predictable pricing. For buyers who value the zodiac theme and limited production, the RCM bar has more appeal.

Against generic 1 oz gold bars from Swiss refiners like PAMP and Valcambi, the RCM Lunar bar trades at a premium reflecting the annual zodiac design and limited mintage. A PAMP Fortuna bar provides maximum liquidity and digital authentication, while the RCM Lunar bar offers a design story and potential secondary market premium as individual zodiac years sell out.

Canadian buyers benefit from purchasing RCM products directly: domestic shipping, no import duties, and the assurance of Canada's sovereign mint. For international buyers, the RCM's LBMA accreditation ensures global recognition, though premiums above spot may be higher than for more widely produced alternatives.