1 listing
Filters
| Product | /oz | Premium | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monument Metals
Out of Stock
|
$1,719.55 | +2.35% | $429.89 | View Deal |
Prices are fetched automatically and may not reflect current merchant prices. Currency conversions and tax treatment are approximate. Rankings are based solely on price. We are not a dealer and accept no responsibility for transactions with listed merchants. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This site does not provide investment advice. Full disclaimer
About the 1/4 oz Phoenix Platinum Coin
KOMSCO's Fractional Platinum Phoenix
The 1/4 oz Platinum Phoenix is produced by KOMSCO (Korea Minting, Security Printing and ID Card Operating Corporation), South Korea's state-owned mint. It contains 7.776 grams of 999.5 fine platinum and features the Bonghwang, the Korean phoenix from mythology stretching back over 1,000 years. The series first appeared in 2020 in silver and gold, with platinum versions produced in limited quantities.
A critical distinction for this coin: despite being produced by a sovereign mint and inscribed "Republic of Korea," the Phoenix carries no denomination and has no legal tender status. It is technically classified as a medal or round rather than a coin. This places it in an unusual position shared by KOMSCO's other bullion products, including the Chiwoo Cheonwang warrior series. The lack of legal tender status has practical implications for tax treatment and retirement account eligibility in several jurisdictions.
KOMSCO is relatively new to the international bullion market; their first bullion product launched in 2016. Their expertise comes from producing South Korea's banknotes, passports, and national ID cards, which translates into a distinctive security feature on the Phoenix: latent letter-changing technology that spells out "Bong Hwang" when viewed at certain angles. This is more sophisticated than the security measures on many competing platinum products and reflects KOMSCO's background in secure document production.
The Phoenix's market position is niche. Production runs are small (the silver version has been limited to 15,000-30,000 medals), and the platinum version is even more limited. This is a collector-oriented bullion product rather than a mainstream investment coin, commanding premiums that reflect both the platinum content and the collector demand for KOMSCO's limited-production bullion items.
1/4 oz Platinum Phoenix Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.776 g (1/4 troy oz) |
| Purity | 999.5 (99.95% fine platinum) |
| Manufacturer | KOMSCO (Korea Minting, Security Printing and ID Card Operating Corporation) |
| Country of Origin | South Korea |
| Legal Tender Status | None (classified as medal) |
| Face Value | None |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Obverse | Bonghwang (Korean phoenix) in flight with ornate flowing feathers |
| Reverse | Presidential Seal of the Republic of South Korea with Taegeuk symbol flanked by two phoenixes |
| Security Feature | Latent letter-changing technology ("Bong Hwang" visible at angle) |
| Series First Year | 2020 |
The Presidential Seal on the reverse is a direct reproduction of the official emblem used by the President of South Korea, lending government-level authenticity despite the medal's non-coin status. The Taegeuk symbol at its centre is the same yin-yang emblem featured on the South Korean national flag, placing this bullion product firmly within the Korean national identity tradition.
The latent letter technology is KOMSCO's signature security feature, shared with their Chiwoo Cheonwang warrior series. It leverages the mint's expertise as South Korea's national security printer (responsible for banknotes, passports, and national ID cards). Vertical lines embedded in the design spell out "Bong Hwang" when viewed at certain angles, providing a verification method more sophisticated than the simple reeded edges and weight checks used for authentication on many competing products. This represents one of the more advanced security features available on any platinum bullion product, comparable in sophistication to the Royal Canadian Mint's Bullion DNA system.
Tax Position of the Platinum Phoenix
The Phoenix's lack of legal tender status creates uncertainty in several tax jurisdictions. Because it is technically a medal rather than a coin, standard bullion exemptions may not apply in the same way as for sovereign legal tender coins.
- United Kingdom: The platinum medal is subject to 20% VAT on purchase. Not CGT-exempt (no UK legal tender status, and it is not even a foreign legal tender coin). Both entry and exit are fully taxed.
- United States: IRA eligibility is uncertain. US IRS rules under Section 408(m) require platinum to meet 99.95% purity, which the Phoenix does. However, some interpretations require coins to be legal tender for IRA inclusion, which the Phoenix is not. Investors should verify with their specific custodian. Sales tax varies by state.
- Canada: GST/HST treatment is uncertain given the medal status. Canadian rules require items to be in "bar, ingot, coin or wafer form" at 99.5%+ purity. The Phoenix may qualify as a coin by form even without legal tender status, but this is not definitively established.
- Australia: Investment-grade precious metals are GST-free at 99%+ purity in forms "commonly traded on commodity markets." The medal classification may complicate qualification.
- Singapore: IPM exemption applies to coins that are or were legal tender. The Phoenix does not qualify under this criterion, potentially attracting 9% GST.
- Hong Kong: No sales tax or CGT of any kind, regardless of legal tender status. The medal classification is irrelevant here.
The tax uncertainty is a meaningful consideration. Buyers in the UK and EU face full VAT regardless, but in jurisdictions where legal tender status determines exemption eligibility (US IRA, Singapore IPM), the Phoenix is at a disadvantage compared to sovereign platinum coins like the 1/4 oz American Platinum Eagle.