1 oz PAMP Suisse Lunar Platinum Bar

Zodiac-Themed Platinum from Switzerland's Premier Refinery

The 1 oz Lunar Platinum Bar from PAMP Suisse combines investment-grade platinum with the Chinese zodiac designs that have made PAMP's Lunar series one of the most collected themed bar ranges in bullion. Each annual release features a different zodiac animal, with the original Lunar Calendar Series running from 2012 to 2023 and the newer Lunar Legend Series continuing from 2024 with mythology-inspired artwork.

PAMP Suisse is an LBMA-accredited Swiss refinery founded in 1977, part of the MKS PAMP Group. Their reputation for artistic minted bar designs began with the iconic Fortuna bar in 1979, and the Lunar series carries that tradition forward. In platinum, the Lunar bar occupies a niche that sits between pure investment product and collectible themed bullion. The annual design changes give completed sets a secondary market premium, though individual bars primarily trade based on their metal content.

The platinum version is less widely available than the gold and silver Lunar bars. Limited dealer inventory means availability can be inconsistent, particularly for specific zodiac years. This scarcity is characteristic of the platinum bar market generally, where production runs are smaller and fewer dealers maintain continuous stock.

PAMP Lunar 1 oz Platinum Bar Specifications

The bar ships in PAMP's distinctive red CertiPAMP card, which displays weight, purity, serial number, and certified assayer signature. Since 2017, bars include Veriscan anti-counterfeiting technology, which maps the microscopic surface topography of each bar and stores it in PAMP's database. Verification is possible through an iOS app or a desktop scanner, and it works through the sealed packaging without opening the assay card. Veriscan holds LBMA Security Feature accreditation.

The obverse design features the zodiac animal for that year (or the mythological legend in the 2024+ series), with the reverse carrying PAMP's standard refinery details. The minted finish produces sharp, detailed artwork with a mirror-like surface quality.

Tax Treatment of the PAMP Lunar Platinum Bar

As a refined platinum bar with no legal tender status, this product carries the standard platinum tax treatment in each jurisdiction. No government recognises it as currency, so legal-tender-based tax exemptions do not apply.

• United Kingdom: 20% VAT on purchase. CGT applies on disposal (18-24% rates, GBP 3,000 annual exemption). UK buyers seeking CGT-exempt platinum should consider the 1 oz Platinum Britannia instead.
• United States: Most states exempt investment platinum from sales tax. IRA-eligible at 99.95%+ purity from LBMA-accredited refiners. CGT at the 28% collectibles rate for long-term holdings.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt at 99.5%+ purity. CGT at the 50% inclusion rate.
• Australia: GST-free for platinum at 99%+ purity in investment form. CGT with 50% discount after 12 months.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt at 99%+ purity. No capital gains tax.
• Singapore: GST-exempt as IPM (Investment Precious Metal) for platinum at 99%+ from LPPM-accredited refiners. No CGT.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no duties, no CGT. The Lunar theme has particular cultural resonance in Hong Kong's market.
• European Union: Standard VAT (19-27%) applies. Some countries offer margin scheme arrangements on pre-owned platinum.

Two Zodiac Cycles from PAMP

The Lunar Calendar Series launched in 2012 with the Dragon design and completed a full 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle with the Rabbit in 2023. Each year's release depicted the corresponding animal, with the design approach evolving across the cycle. Early years (2012-2014) featured single animals from direct perspectives. The 2015 Goat, 2018 Dog, and 2019 Pig introduced adult-and-young pairings. The 2017 Rooster used a distinctive cliff-edge perspective that marked both a design departure and the first year of Veriscan technology integration.

In 2024, PAMP launched the Lunar Legend Series as a creative reboot. Rather than simply depicting zodiac animals, the Legend series illustrates the mythological stories behind each creature. The 2024 Azure Dragon represents the guardian of the east, associated with spring and rain in Chinese mythology. The 2025 White Snake draws from the tale of Bai Suzhen, a legend about wisdom, transformation, and prosperity. This narrative approach gives each release cultural depth beyond the zodiac symbol itself and distinguishes the second cycle from the first.

PAMP was the first company to produce artistic minted bars (as opposed to plain cast bars), beginning with the Fortuna design in 1979. The Lunar series represents an extension of that philosophy: treating the bar surface as a canvas for detailed artwork rather than merely stamping weight and purity information. Counterfeiting of PAMP bars has been documented in the secondary market, which partly motivated the development of Veriscan authentication technology.

PAMP Lunar vs Other 1 oz Platinum Bars

Against non-themed platinum bars from the same refinery (the standard PAMP Suisse Fortuna Platinum Bar), the Lunar version carries a collectible premium reflecting the annual designs and limited production. For buyers interested solely in platinum accumulation at the lowest cost, the Fortuna or a 1 oz Heraeus Platinum Bar will be cheaper per ounce. The Lunar bar appeals to those who value both the metal and the themed design.

Compared to the Perth Mint Lunar coin series, PAMP Lunar bars are not legal tender and therefore lack CGT exemption in the UK. Perth Mint's coins also have a longer pedigree in the lunar-themed bullion space (Series I began in 1996, sixteen years before PAMP's first Lunar bar). However, PAMP bars benefit from Veriscan authentication and typically carry lower premiums than sovereign mint coins of equivalent weight.

Against Argor-Heraeus platinum bars, PAMP has stronger global brand recognition and the Veriscan security feature. Argor-Heraeus offers its own Kinebar holographic security as a counterpoint. Both are LBMA-accredited Swiss refiners with comparable product quality; the choice is largely one of brand preference and dealer availability.