5g PAMP Suisse Lunar Silver Bar

PAMP's Zodiac Series in a 5 Gram Silver Format

The 5g PAMP Suisse Lunar silver bar combines the artistry of PAMP's Chinese zodiac series with the accessibility of a 5 gram weight. Produced by PAMP Suisse, the LBMA-accredited Swiss refinery founded in 1977, these bars feature a different zodiac animal each year as part of a 12-year cycle. The original Lunar Calendar Series ran from 2012 (Dragon) to 2023 (Rabbit), with the newer Lunar Legend Series beginning in 2024 and shifting focus from simple zodiac depictions to the mythological stories behind each animal.

Each bar is sealed in PAMP's distinctive red CertiPAMP tamper-evident assay card and carries an individual serial number. Bars produced from 2017 onwards include Veriscan anti-counterfeiting technology, an LBMA-accredited system that maps the microscopic surface topography of each bar for database verification. The bar can be authenticated through the sealed packaging using an iPhone app or Canon scanner without opening the assay card.

At 5 grams of .999 fine silver, the metal value is negligible, positioning this firmly as a collectible and gifting product. The annual zodiac design changes create a natural collecting incentive, and the Chinese zodiac theme gives the bars particular resonance as Chinese New Year gifts. PAMP was the first company to produce artistic minted bars (beginning with the Fortuna design in 1979), and the Lunar series continues that tradition of treating bars as canvases for detailed artwork.

5g PAMP Lunar Silver Bar Specifications

Annual Designs

The Lunar Calendar Series (2012-2023) depicted each zodiac animal in turn: Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Tiger, and Rabbit. Design style evolved across the cycle, with 2015, 2018, and 2019 showing adult-and-young animal pairings, and the 2017 Rooster introducing a distinctive cliff-edge perspective.

The Lunar Legend Series (2024 onwards) tells the mythological stories behind each animal. The 2024 Azure Dragon represents the guardian of the east, associated with spring and rain. The 2025 White Snake draws from the tale of Bai Suzhen, symbolising wisdom, transformation, and prosperity. Each release carries more elaborate, narrative-driven artwork than the original series.

Tax Treatment of the 5g PAMP Lunar Silver Bar

PAMP Lunar bars are refined silver bars with no legal tender status. Tax treatment follows standard silver bullion rules in each jurisdiction.

• United Kingdom: Subject to 20% VAT on purchase. Not CGT-exempt (no legal tender status). UK buyers seeking CGT-exempt lunar-themed bullion should consider the Royal Mint Lunar gold coins instead, which carry legal tender status.
• European Union: Silver bars attract standard VAT at national rates (17-27% depending on country). Germany's Differenzbesteuerung (margin scheme) may reduce effective VAT on pre-owned bars. The Netherlands and Spain also offer margin scheme arrangements for second-hand silver.
• United States: No federal sales tax; state treatment varies. The .999 purity from an LBMA-accredited refinery qualifies for IRA inclusion through approved custodians. Capital gains taxed at the 28% collectibles rate for holdings over one year.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt for silver bars at 99.9%+ purity.
• Australia: GST-free for investment-grade silver at 99.9%+ purity.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals scheme. No capital gains tax. PAMP has strong brand recognition in Asian markets.
• Hong Kong: No VAT, no import duty, no capital gains tax. The Lunar zodiac theme has particular cultural significance in Hong Kong.

PAMP Lunar vs Other 5g Silver Bars

The 5g PAMP Lunar silver bar occupies a specific niche: collectible themed bullion from a top-tier refiner. Its closest competitors are other PAMP 5g bars and similar offerings from competing Swiss refiners.

Against a standard 5g PAMP Suisse silver bar without the Lunar theme, the Lunar version carries a higher premium reflecting its annual design changes and collector demand. For pure metal accumulation, the non-themed bar is cheaper per gram. For buyers who want both metal and collectibility, the Lunar premium is the trade-off.

Compared to the 5g Geiger Original Square, the PAMP Lunar offers broader international recognition, CertiPAMP/Veriscan authentication, and annual design variety. The Geiger offers a distinctive square format with UV-reactive security coating and reeded edges. Both carry substantial premiums over spot at this weight; the choice is largely aesthetic and brand-driven.

Against Perth Mint's Lunar coin series (Australian legal tender), PAMP Lunar bars lack legal tender status and the CGT benefits that brings in some jurisdictions. Perth Mint also has the longer track record with lunar-themed bullion (since 1996 vs PAMP's 2012). PAMP's advantage is the wider weight range and lower entry price at small denominations.

A complete 12-bar set of all zodiac animals in PAMP's 5g gold format is sold as a boxed collector item commanding a premium well above the sum of individual bars, but no equivalent packaged silver set is standard at this size.