5 oz Royal Australian Mint Lunar Silver Coin

The 5 oz Royal Australian Mint Lunar Silver Coin

The 5 oz RAM Lunar silver coin is a larger-format offering from the Royal Australian Mint's Chinese zodiac programme, which launched in 2020 with the Year of the Mouse (Rat). At 155.5 grams of .9999 fine silver, it carries a higher purity than many competing 5 oz coins and is Australian legal tender under the Currency Act 1965.

The RAM Lunar series is distinct from the better-known Perth Mint Lunar programme, which has been running since 1996. RAM (Royal Australian Mint) is the Commonwealth's national mint in Canberra, responsible for Australia's circulating coinage, while Perth Mint is a Western Australian state enterprise. Both are legitimate Australian government mints, but they operate independently with different design aesthetics and distribution networks.

RAM Lunar designs tend toward a more contemporary, modern Australian art style compared to Perth Mint's traditional Chinese-influenced motifs. The 5 oz format provides ample space to appreciate these design details, with each year's zodiac animal rendered in a distinctive artistic interpretation. RAM uses Australian designers for the series, creating a visual identity separate from Perth Mint's in-house team.

The .9999 purity (four nines fine) is notable at this weight. Many 5 oz silver coins, including the 5 oz Noah's Ark and 5 oz Somalia Elephant, use .999 fine silver. The RAM Lunar's higher purity matches the Canadian Maple Leaf standard and ensures qualification for investment-grade tax exemptions in jurisdictions that set the bar at 99.9%.

RAM Lunar 5 oz Silver Specifications

Zodiac Release Schedule

The RAM uses Australian designers for its Lunar series, creating a more contemporary, modern art style compared to the Perth Mint's traditional Chinese-influenced motifs. Each zodiac animal is interpreted through this distinctive Australian design lens. The 2024 Dragon year traditionally generates the highest demand in any zodiac programme, as Dragon is considered the most auspicious year in Chinese culture.

RAM Lunar Tax Treatment by Country

As Australian legal tender, RAM Lunar coins have clear sovereign status. The .9999 purity exceeds the investment-grade thresholds in all major markets, making tax qualification straightforward across jurisdictions.

• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade silver (exceeds the 99.9% purity requirement). Capital gains tax applies with a 50% discount for holdings over 12 months. Personal use asset exemption (under $500 acquisition cost) is unlikely to apply at 5 oz weights.
• United Kingdom: 20% VAT on new purchases. Not UK legal tender, so no CGT exemption applies on disposal. Capital gains taxed at the individual's rate (18% or 24%) above the annual £3,000 allowance. Pre-owned coins may qualify for the margin scheme from specialist dealers.
• United States: State sales tax varies by state. Australian legal tender coins meeting the 99.9% silver purity threshold are generally IRA-eligible under IRS Section 408(m). The .9999 purity comfortably satisfies this requirement. Capital gains taxed at the 28% collectibles rate for holdings over one year.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt (purity exceeds the 99.9% threshold for silver in coin form). May qualify for RRSP and TFSA inclusion through approved custodians, offering tax-deferred or tax-free growth respectively.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for silver at 99.9% or higher purity. The .9999 purity comfortably exceeds this threshold. No formal capital gains tax in New Zealand.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme for silver at 99.9% or higher purity from qualifying issuers. No capital gains tax applies in Singapore.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax on precious metals of any kind.

RAM Lunar 5 oz vs Perth Mint Lunar 5 oz

The most direct comparison is with the Perth Mint Lunar series, which has been the dominant Australian zodiac coin programme since 1996. Both are Australian legal tender, both feature Chinese zodiac animals, and both use .9999 fine silver in their current production.

Perth Mint's three decades of Lunar coin production have built strong global brand recognition and established resale channels. Dealers worldwide know the Perth Mint Lunar instantly and will buy them without hesitation. The RAM Lunar is a newer entrant that trades this established recognition for typically lower premiums and a distinct contemporary design approach that some buyers prefer.

For pure bullion buyers focused on minimising premium per ounce of silver, the RAM Lunar often represents better value at point of purchase. For buyers who value established resale liquidity and collector-market recognition when it comes time to sell, the Perth Mint Lunar's longer track record is the stronger proposition. Both share identical purity (.9999) and Australian legal tender status, so the tax treatment and fundamental silver content are exactly equivalent across all jurisdictions.