1 oz Royal Canadian Mint Lunar Silver Coin

Royal Canadian Mint Lunar Zodiac Silver at .9999 Purity

The 1 oz Royal Canadian Mint Lunar silver coin belongs to the RCM's Chinese zodiac programme, which has produced lunar-themed coins since 1998 across multiple distinct sub-series. The current .9999 fine silver issues carry the RCM's standard security features including micro-laser engraved maple leaf privy marks on newer releases. Each year features the zodiac animal for that year in the twelve-animal Chinese lunar cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

The RCM Lunar programme differs fundamentally from the Perth Mint's dominant Lunar series in its positioning. The Perth Mint produces unlimited-mintage bullion-grade lunars designed for mass stacking. The RCM issues limited-mintage pieces that sit between pure bullion and numismatics, with mintage figures often in the low thousands. The 2025 Year of the Snake gold coin, for example, was limited to just 1,888 pieces (the number 8 being considered lucky in Chinese culture). This scarcity gives older dates secondary market premiums that standard bullion products do not command.

For silver stackers looking at 1 oz silver coins with annual design variation, the RCM Lunar offers a middle ground between the unlimited-mintage coins (Britannias, Maple Leafs, Eagles) and expensive proof-only collector pieces. The .9999 purity matches the 1 oz Silver Maple Leaf standard and exceeds most international competitors.

RCM Lunar Silver Coin Specifications

Available Formats in the Broader RCM Lunar Programme

Earlier RCM lunar programmes used different compositions: the 1998–2009 $15 series was sterling silver (.925) with 24-karat gold-plated cameo inserts, and the $150 gold series used 18-karat (750 fine) gold. The current generation uses .9999 across all metal options, aligning with modern investor expectations for maximum purity. Security features include the RCM's standard micro-laser engraved maple leaf privy mark on recent issues.

Canadian Government Issue: Tax Status by Jurisdiction

As Canadian legal tender from the Royal Canadian Mint, this coin is exempt from GST/HST in Canada for silver at 99.9%+ purity. The .9999 fineness exceeds this threshold comfortably. No provincial variation applies to this federal exemption. Canadian capital gains are taxed at a 50% inclusion rate (half the gain added to income at the individual's marginal rate).

In the United States, the .9999 purity from a recognised government issuer meets Section 408(m) requirements for IRA eligibility. The 18-karat ($150) gold versions of the RCM Lunar programme do not qualify for IRA inclusion since they fall below the 99.5% gold purity threshold, but the pure silver and .9999 gold versions are eligible. State sales tax exemptions apply in approximately 35 states.

UK buyers pay 20% VAT on silver coins from non-UK mints. The RCM Lunar is not CGT-exempt in the UK (that status requires Royal Mint UK legal tender). Gold versions qualify for VAT exemption as investment gold under the retained EU directive (legal tender, post-1800, 900+ purity). In the EU, gold coins meeting directive criteria are VAT-exempt; silver is subject to local VAT rates (19% in Germany with margin scheme availability for secondary market coins).

Australian and New Zealand buyers benefit from GST exemption on investment-grade silver at 99.9%+ purity. Singapore's IPM scheme exempts qualifying silver coins from GST. Hong Kong has no sales tax on precious metals of any kind.

RCM Lunar vs Perth Mint Lunar and Royal Mint Lunar

The Perth Mint's Lunar series is the benchmark for Chinese zodiac bullion coins globally. Running since 1996 (now in Series III, 2020–2031), it offers sizes from 1/20 oz to 10 kg in gold and 1/2 oz to 10 kg in silver, with effectively unlimited mintages on bullion grades. The Perth Mint Lunar is designed for mass accumulation at low premiums. The RCM Lunar is designed for limited-mintage collecting at higher premiums, with mintage figures in the hundreds or low thousands rather than open-ended production.

This distinction matters practically: a Perth Mint Lunar 1 oz silver coin can be bought and sold at near-spot premiums through any major dealer worldwide. An RCM Lunar coin may command significant premiums on the secondary market, particularly for popular animals like the Dragon or Snake, but that secondary market is thinner and less liquid. Buyers wanting zodiac-themed silver as a pure bullion holding are better served by Perth Mint. Buyers who value scarcity and potential numismatic appreciation will find the RCM offering more compelling.

The Royal Mint launched its own Lunar series (Shengxiao Collection) in 2014 with 1 oz gold and silver in .9999 purity and limited mintages, offering a third option for zodiac collectors. For UK buyers specifically, the Royal Mint Lunar carries the CGT exemption that neither the RCM nor Perth Mint versions offer. The Britannia remains the most liquid UK CGT-exempt silver coin, but for collectors wanting annual variety with that tax advantage, the Royal Mint Lunar fills the niche.