10g PAMP Suisse Lunar Silver Bar

Chinese Zodiac Silver from PAMP Suisse

The 10g PAMP Suisse Lunar silver bar is part of PAMP's zodiac-themed bar series, which assigns each year's release a design featuring the corresponding Chinese zodiac animal. The series has run in two distinct cycles: the Lunar Calendar Series (2012-2023), which completed a full twelve-year zodiac cycle from Dragon to Rabbit, and the Lunar Legend Series (2024 onward), which retells the mythological stories behind each animal rather than simply depicting them.

The current Lunar Legend Series represents a creative reboot. The 2024 release featured the Azure Dragon (guardian of the east, associated with spring and rain), the 2025 release the White Snake (the tale of Bai Suzhen, symbolising wisdom and transformation), and 2026 the Horse. The shift from straightforward zodiac depictions to narrative-driven artwork drawn from Chinese mythology and folklore adds cultural depth to each release.

At 10 grams of .999 fine silver, this bar sits in the small-denomination segment. The PAMP brand premium and the annual zodiac theme add collector value above the metal content. The Lunar series occupies a specific gifting niche: silver bars given for Chinese New Year that carry both investment metal and cultural significance. The 10g format is affordable enough for gift-giving while still representing a substantive piece of refined silver.

Each bar comes sealed in PAMP's distinctive red CertiPAMP tamper-evident assay card with an individual serial number. Since 2017, bars include VeriScan anti-counterfeiting technology, which has received LBMA Gold Bar Integrity accreditation. Pre-2017 bars lack VeriScan but retain the serial number and CertiPAMP packaging.

10g PAMP Suisse Lunar Silver Bar Specifications

Lunar Calendar Series Designs (2012-2023)

The reverse of all Lunar bars shows the standard PAMP elements: logo, weight, purity, serial number, and assayer's mark. VeriScan verification works through sealed CertiPAMP packaging, requiring no card opening. Two verification methods are available: a Canon document scanner with PAMP's positioning frame, or the VeriScan iOS app.

Tax Treatment for the 10g PAMP Lunar Silver Bar

PAMP Lunar bars are not legal tender. They have no face value and are classified as privately refined silver bars for tax purposes.

United Kingdom

Silver bars carry 20% VAT on purchase. No CGT exemption applies. UK buyers seeking CGT-exempt lunar-themed products should note that the Royal Mint produces Lunar Year coins that are UK legal tender and therefore CGT-exempt, though these carry higher premiums than PAMP bars and are gold coins, not silver bars.

United States

.999 silver bars from LBMA-accredited refiners qualify for precious metals IRAs via approved custodians. Capital gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28%. Sales tax varies by state, with roughly 35 states exempting bullion.

European Union and Switzerland

Silver bars attract the standard VAT rate in each EU member state. Switzerland applies 8.1% VAT to silver. PAMP bars can be purchased with Swiss storage options through GOLDAVENUE, PAMP's retail platform.

Canada and Australia

Canada exempts silver at 99.9%+ purity from GST/HST. Australia exempts investment-grade silver at 99.9%+ from GST.

Singapore and Hong Kong

Singapore exempts qualifying investment precious metals from GST, with no capital gains tax. Hong Kong has no sales tax, import duty, or CGT. Both markets have strong demand for Chinese zodiac-themed products. The Lunar design has particular cultural resonance for Chinese New Year gifting in these regions, adding a secondary market beyond pure bullion investment.

PAMP Lunar vs Other Lunar-Themed Bullion and 10g Silver Bars

The PAMP Lunar silver bar competes in two markets simultaneously: the 10g silver bar market and the broader Chinese zodiac collectible bullion market.

In the zodiac market, the Perth Mint Lunar series is the dominant competitor, but Perth Mint produces coins (Australian dollar legal tender), not bars. Perth Mint Lunar coins span three generations: Series I (1996-2007), Series II (2008-2019), and Series III (2020-2031). The Perth Mint's longer track record (since 1996 versus PAMP's 2012) and legal tender status give their coins advantages in CGT-exempt jurisdictions and broader collector recognition. PAMP Lunar bars carry lower premiums per gram than Perth Mint coins at equivalent weight, making them the more cost-effective option for buyers focused on metal content.

The 10g PAMP Fortuna bar is the non-themed alternative from the same refinery. The Fortuna has higher production volumes and stronger secondary-market liquidity. Lunar bars carry a collectible premium above the Fortuna due to their annual designs and the market for completing zodiac sets. For pure silver accumulation at lowest cost, the Fortuna is the better choice. For buyers who want both metal and a collectible design cycle, the Lunar commands the premium.

The complete twelve-bar Lunar Calendar set (2012-2023) in 5g gold is sold as a single boxed collector item commanding a premium above the sum of individual bars. No equivalent silver set package is widely marketed, but secondary-market collectors assemble full sets independently.

The 10g Geiger Original and 10g PAMP Buddha bars are alternative premium 10g silver products that compete on design and security features rather than annual collectibility. The Lunar series is unique among these options in offering a new design each year, creating a collecting cycle that the others lack.