1 oz AARUS Silver Bar

Canadian Private Mint Silver at Entry-Level Weight

The 1 oz AARUS Silver Bar is produced by AARUS, a Canadian private mint that manufactures .999 fine silver (and .9999 fine gold) bars and rounds. The bar offers a straightforward entry point into silver bullion from a smaller, non-LBMA-accredited producer operating in the Canadian market.

AARUS occupies the budget tier of the silver bar market. Without LBMA accreditation or the brand recognition of established refiners like the Royal Canadian Mint, Valcambi, or PAMP Suisse, AARUS bars typically trade at lower premiums than branded competitors. The trade-off is reduced secondary-market liquidity: dealers outside the Canadian market may not recognise the brand and will price buybacks at generic melt value regardless of the original purchase premium.

For Canadian buyers looking to accumulate silver weight at minimal cost above spot, the AARUS bar delivers genuine .999 fine silver in the standard 1 oz format. The product functions identically to any other 1 oz .999 bar for investment purposes. The practical consideration is future resale: bars from more widely recognised producers will command better buyback offers from a broader range of dealers.

At the 1 oz silver bar weight class, premiums from all manufacturers converge somewhat because the fixed manufacturing costs represent a similar percentage of the total price regardless of brand. The brand premium differential becomes more pronounced at larger sizes where manufacturing costs are proportionally smaller relative to metal value.

AARUS 1 oz Silver Bar Details

AARUS produces both gold and silver products. Their gold bars are manufactured at .9999 fine (99.99% pure), while silver bars are produced at the industry-standard .999 fine (99.9% pure). The company markets primarily to Canadian retail investors through online bullion dealers.

Without LBMA accreditation, the purity guarantee rests solely on the manufacturer's reputation rather than third-party verification against international standards. LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) accreditation requires a refinery to pass rigorous proactive monitoring of production processes, assaying accuracy, and bar quality. For buyers who prioritise independently verified purity, LBMA-accredited producers like the Royal Canadian Mint or international refiners provide that additional assurance layer.

Standard authentication for any .999 silver bar involves weight verification (31.103 g for 1 troy oz), specific gravity testing (silver's density of 10.49 g/cm3 distinguishes it from base metals), and the magnet slide test. These methods work identically regardless of the manufacturer, making purity verification straightforward for bars from lesser-known producers.

AARUS Silver Bar Tax Position

The AARUS 1 oz Silver Bar follows standard silver bullion tax treatment as a .999 fine private-mint bar with no legal tender status.

• Canada: GST/HST exempt. The bar meets the 99.9% purity threshold for precious metals exemption under Canadian federal tax law. No provincial variation applies to this exemption. Capital gains are subject to the 50% inclusion rate (50% of the gain is added to income and taxed at the individual's marginal rate).
• United States: State sales tax rules vary. Approximately 35 states exempt bullion entirely. Capital gains taxed at the 28% collectibles rate.
• United Kingdom: 20% VAT on purchase. Subject to CGT at the individual's rate. Not CGT-exempt.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade silver at 99.9% purity.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for fine silver at 99.9%+ purity.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme at .999 purity, subject to the bar being from a qualifying refiner. Non-LBMA refiners may not qualify for the IPM exemption in all cases.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.

Canadian buyers benefit from RRSP and TFSA eligibility for qualifying precious metals, though eligibility depends on the specific custodian accepting products from this manufacturer. The Royal Canadian Mint's bars face fewer approval barriers for registered account inclusion.