1 oz PAMP Suisse Lunar Silver Bar

The 1 oz PAMP Lunar Silver Bar

The 1 oz Lunar Silver Bar from PAMP Suisse carries one troy ounce of 999 fine silver in a minted bar format, featuring the Chinese zodiac animal corresponding to the year of production. PAMP has produced two distinct lunar series: the original Lunar Calendar Series (2012-2023), which completed a full 12-year zodiac cycle from Dragon to Rabbit, and the Lunar Legend Series (2024 onwards), which retells the mythological stories behind each zodiac animal rather than simply depicting them.

PAMP Suisse, headquartered in Ticino, Switzerland, has been refining precious metals since 1977 and holds LBMA accreditation. The company pioneered the concept of artistic minted bars, beginning with the famous Fortuna design in 1979. The Lunar series continues this tradition, treating the bar surface as a canvas for detailed artwork that changes with each annual release. Every bar comes sealed in PAMP's distinctive red CertiPAMP tamper-evident assay card, displaying weight, purity, serial number, and a certified assayer's signature.

Since 2017, all PAMP bars include Veriscan anti-counterfeiting technology, a system that maps the microscopic surface topography of each bar at the production line. Verification works through an iOS app that scans the bar's surface (through the sealed packaging) and compares it against PAMP's database. Veriscan received LBMA Security Feature accreditation, the highest industry standard for bullion authentication. This makes the 1 oz Lunar bar one of the most verifiable silver products on the market.

PAMP Lunar 1 oz Silver Bar Specifications

The Lunar series is also available in gold (1g, 5g, 10g, 1 oz, 100g at 9999 purity) and platinum (1 oz at 9995 purity). A complete set of all 12 zodiac animals in 5g gold is sold as a boxed collector set. The silver bars are the most accessible price point for buyers who want the zodiac-themed design without the higher outlay of the gold versions.

Tax Position for PAMP Lunar Silver Bars

PAMP Lunar bars are refined bars with no legal tender status. Their tax treatment follows the standard rules for silver bars in each jurisdiction, with no special exemptions tied to the PAMP brand or the Lunar theme.

• United Kingdom: 20% VAT on purchase. Not CGT-exempt. All PAMP bars, regardless of series or design, are CGT-liable in the UK. Buyers wanting lunar-themed silver with CGT exemption should consider the Perth Mint Lunar coins or the Royal Mint Lunar coins, both of which carry legal tender status (though they still attract 20% VAT on silver).
• United States: No federal sales tax. State sales tax varies. IRA-eligible, as 999 silver bars from LBMA-accredited refiners meet IRS purity and manufacturer requirements. Capital gains at 28% collectibles rate.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt for silver at 99.9%+ purity.
• Australia: GST-free for investment-grade silver at 99.9% purity from accredited refiners.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme for 999 silver bars from LBMA-accredited refiners. No capital gains tax. The Lunar theme has strong cultural resonance in Singapore's Chinese-majority population, particularly during Chinese New Year.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, duties, or capital gains tax. PAMP bars are widely available through Hong Kong dealers, and the Lunar series sells well during the Chinese New Year gifting season.
• Switzerland: Investment gold bars are VAT-exempt. Silver bars attract the reduced VAT rate of 8.1%. PAMP bars can be purchased directly through GOLDAVENUE, PAMP's own retail platform, with Swiss storage options.
• South Africa: 15% VAT on all silver. No exemption.

Two Zodiac Cycles and a Shift to Mythology

The PAMP Lunar Calendar Series launched in 2012 with the Year of the Dragon and ran through 2023's Year of the Rabbit, completing one full cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Each year's bar featured the corresponding animal on the obverse, with PAMP's standard branding on the reverse. The design approach evolved across the cycle: early years (2012-2014, 2016) featured single animals depicted from various perspectives, while later years (2015, 2018-2019) introduced adult-and-young animal pairings. The 2017 Rooster introduced a distinctive cliff-edge perspective that departed from the earlier flat compositions.

In 2024, PAMP launched the Lunar Legend Series, a creative reboot that shifts from simple zodiac depictions to the mythological stories behind each animal. The inaugural 2024 release featured the Azure Dragon, associated with the east, spring, and rain in Chinese mythology. The 2025 White Snake draws from the tale of Bai Suzhen, a story of wisdom, transformation, and prosperity. The Legend series is expected to run through 2035, completing a second full zodiac cycle.

PAMP was the first company to produce artistic minted (as opposed to cast) precious metals bars, starting with the Fortuna bar in 1979. The Lunar series reflects this heritage: each bar is stamped with sharp, detailed artwork and a mirror-like finish that distinguishes minted PAMP bars from rougher cast products. The narrative depth of the Legend series suggests PAMP's intention to position the second zodiac cycle as a more premium, culturally rich product than the original Calendar series.

PAMP Lunar vs Perth Mint Lunar and Rival Silver Products

The most direct comparison is with the Perth Mint Lunar series, which also follows the Chinese zodiac on a 12-year cycle. The Perth Mint version consists of legal tender coins (denominated in Australian dollars) rather than bars, which gives them potential tax advantages in some jurisdictions. Perth Mint is currently on Series III (2020-2031) and has been producing lunar-themed bullion since 1996, giving it a longer track record. Perth Lunar coins are 9999 fine silver (from 2017 onwards), marginally purer than PAMP's 999 specification, though the practical difference is negligible.

PAMP Lunar bars generally carry lower premiums per ounce than Perth Lunar coins, reflecting the lower production costs of bars versus coins and the absence of legal tender face value. For buyers focused on silver weight at the lowest cost, the PAMP bar is the more efficient choice. For buyers who want the legal tender status, government mint backing, and the broader size range that the Perth Mint offers (from 1/2 oz to 10 kg), the Perth coins provide options that PAMP's bar range does not match.

Against non-themed silver bars from the same refinery, the PAMP Lunar bar carries a collectible premium. A standard PAMP Fortuna silver bar costs less per ounce while offering the same purity, Veriscan authentication, and CertiPAMP packaging. The Lunar premium reflects the annual design change and the collector demand that zodiac-themed products generate, particularly during Chinese New Year. Buyers who treat silver purely as a commodity investment will find the non-themed bar more cost-efficient; buyers who value the combination of investment metal and collectible design will find the Lunar premium justified.

Argor-Heraeus, another Swiss LBMA-accredited refinery, produces competing lunar-themed bars. PAMP's Veriscan technology and the wider recognition of the CertiPAMP red assay card give PAMP a practical advantage in authentication and brand trust. Among Swiss refinery products, PAMP Lunar bars are the most widely stocked by international dealers.