100g PAMP Suisse Lunar Silver Bar

Zodiac-Themed Silver from a Swiss LBMA Refinery

The 100g PAMP Suisse Lunar silver bar combines investment-grade bullion with annual zodiac artwork from one of the world's most recognised refineries. PAMP (Produits Artistiques Metaux Precieux), founded in 1977 in Ticino, Switzerland, was the first refinery to treat bars as a canvas for artistic designs, beginning with the famous Lady Fortuna motif in 1979. The Lunar series continues this tradition with a different Chinese zodiac animal each year.

Two distinct Lunar series exist. The original Lunar Calendar Series ran from 2012 to 2023, covering a complete 12-year zodiac cycle from Dragon to Rabbit. Each bar depicted the year's zodiac animal alongside its Chinese character. The Lunar Legend Series launched in 2024 as a creative reboot, shifting from straightforward animal portraits to illustrations drawn from the mythological stories behind each zodiac figure. The 2024 Azure Dragon, 2025 White Snake, and 2026 Horse releases reflect this narrative-driven approach.

At 100 grams (3.215 troy ounces), this bar sits in the mid-range of the Lunar silver lineup, which also includes 10g and 1oz sizes. The 100g format offers a lower per-gram premium than the smaller weights while remaining compact enough for practical storage. Each bar is refined to .999 fine silver, individually serialised, and sealed in PAMP's distinctive red CertiPAMP tamper-evident assay card.

The Lunar theme carries particular appeal in Asian markets, where the Chinese zodiac is culturally significant. Bars representing specific birth years or auspicious animals attract gift-market demand beyond their metal content. The 5g gold version of the complete 12-bar Calendar set is sold as a boxed collector item at a significant premium above the sum of individual bars.

PAMP Suisse Lunar 100g Silver Bar Details

Security and Authentication

Each PAMP Lunar bar is sealed in a CertiPAMP assay card that displays the weight, purity, metal content, serial number, and certified assayer's signature. The card is tamper-evident, meaning any attempt to open it leaves visible damage. The serial number printed on the card matches the number engraved on the bar's reverse.

Bars produced from 2017 onwards include Veriscan anti-counterfeiting technology, which maps the microscopic surface topography of each bar at the production line and stores it in PAMP's database. Verification can be done through the Veriscan iOS app by scanning the bar's surface through the sealed packaging, or via a Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II desktop scanner. Veriscan received LBMA Gold Bar Integrity accreditation in 2023. Pre-2017 Lunar Calendar bars do not have Veriscan but retain serial number and CertiPAMP verification.

PAMP bars are minted (stamped from rolled sheet), not cast. This gives them sharp, detailed designs with a mirror-like finish, distinct from the rougher surface of cast bars. The zodiac artwork on the obverse stands alone without markings; all identification details appear on the reverse.

Tax Position of the PAMP Lunar 100g Silver Bar

As a silver bar from a private refinery, the PAMP Lunar 100g is not legal tender in any jurisdiction. Its tax treatment follows the standard rules for silver bullion bars, which are less favourable than gold in most countries.

United Kingdom

Silver bullion bars carry 20% VAT on purchase, with no exemption regardless of purity or manufacturer. On disposal, capital gains are taxable at 18% or 24%, with a £3,000 annual allowance. Silver bars receive no CGT exemption. UK buyers seeking CGT-exempt silver should consider the 1oz Silver Britannia, which has legal tender status.

United States

No federal sales tax. State exemptions apply in roughly 35 states. Capital gains are taxed at up to 28% (collectibles rate) for holdings over one year. The .999 silver purity meets IRA fineness requirements under Section 408(m); PAMP bars are widely listed as IRA-eligible by custodians.

Canada

Silver at 99.9% purity or above is exempt from GST/HST. The 100g PAMP Lunar qualifies at .999 fine. Capital gains face a 50% inclusion rate.

Australia and New Zealand

Silver at 99.9% purity is GST-free in both countries when in investment form. The PAMP Lunar bar meets this threshold. Australia applies CGT with a 50% discount for holdings over 12 months. New Zealand has no formal capital gains tax.

Singapore and Hong Kong

Singapore exempts qualifying silver bars at 99.9% purity from 9% GST under the Investment Precious Metals scheme. Hong Kong charges no sales tax, import duty, or capital gains tax. Both jurisdictions are among the most tax-efficient for silver bullion.

South Africa

Silver bullion is subject to 15% VAT with no exemption. Capital gains are assessable at a 40% inclusion rate for individuals.

European Union

Silver bars attract full VAT at national rates (17-27%). Unlike investment gold, silver has no EU-wide VAT exemption. Margin scheme (Differenzbesteuerung in Germany, margeregeling in the Netherlands) may apply to pre-owned bars but not new production from refineries.

PAMP Lunar 100g vs Plain and Themed Silver Bars

The PAMP Lunar 100g occupies a niche between straightforward investment bars and limited-edition collectibles. Its annual zodiac designs carry a premium above plain refinery bars, but the bar remains a mass-produced LBMA-accredited product with reliable liquidity.

Compared to the standard 100g PAMP Fortuna or 100g PAMP Rosa silver bars, the Lunar edition typically commands a small additional premium reflecting the themed design and annual cycle. All three share the same .999 purity, CertiPAMP packaging, and PAMP Suisse origin. The difference is purely aesthetic and collectible appeal. The Fortuna design has the widest dealer recognition; the Lunar has cultural resonance for Chinese New Year gifting; the Rosa targets buyers who prefer the floral aesthetic.

Against the 100g Metalor silver bar or 100g Valcambi silver bar, the PAMP Lunar typically costs more per gram. The premium difference reflects PAMP's brand positioning and the themed design, not any difference in metal content or purity. Buyers focused purely on accumulating silver weight at the lowest premium will find Metalor and Valcambi bars more cost-effective. Buyers who value the annual design element, Veriscan authentication, or the gifting potential of zodiac-themed bars will find the PAMP premium justified.

The Perth Mint Lunar coin series is the most direct competitor in the lunar-themed bullion space. Perth Mint has produced lunar-themed coins since 1996, considerably longer than PAMP's bar series (2012). Perth Mint coins carry Australian legal tender status, which PAMP bars lack. On the other hand, PAMP Lunar bars at larger metric weights (100g, 1kg) offer lower per-gram premiums than Perth Mint coins at equivalent troy ounce weights, making the bars more cost-efficient for buyers who want lunar-themed silver with less emphasis on coin-format collectibility.