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About the Golden State Lunar Silver
Budget Chinese Zodiac Silver Rounds
The Golden State Mint Lunar series is a Chinese Zodiac silver round programme covering all 12 animals of the cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Currently on its third 12-year cycle ("Series III"), the programme has been running for over 24 years, making it one of the longer-running private mint lunar series in the United States.
Each year features a new obverse design depicting that year's zodiac animal, with Chinese characters and cultural motifs incorporated into the artwork. The reverse carries a consistent design showing all twelve zodiac animals arranged in a circle. Available in 1 oz, 2 oz, and 5 oz silver, all struck at .999 fine purity.
These are private mint rounds, not coins. They carry no face value and no legal tender status. The core appeal is access to the popular Chinese zodiac theme at substantially lower premiums than government-minted alternatives. The Perth Mint Lunar Series is the benchmark for zodiac-themed silver bullion, but its premiums reflect Perth Mint's government backing, higher mintages with collector demand, and .9999 purity. The GSM Lunar offers the same cultural theme at a fraction of the premium, aimed at stackers who want the zodiac design without paying for sovereign mint status.
Private Mint Lunar Round Tax Treatment
Golden State Mint Lunar rounds are private mint products with no legal tender status. Tax treatment follows the general rules for silver rounds rather than sovereign mint coins.
United States: No federal sales tax. State-level exemptions vary. The .999 fine silver purity meets IRA requirements, and GSM's product pages note that the rounds are IRA-approved. Capital gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28% for long-term holdings.
United Kingdom: Silver rounds carry 20% VAT. No CGT exemption applies (only UK legal tender coins qualify). The margin scheme may apply to pre-owned examples purchased from UK dealers.
Canada: Silver at .999 purity exceeds the 99.9% GST/HST exemption threshold for investment bullion.
Australia: Silver at 99.9% purity or higher in standard bullion form is GST-exempt. The .999 purity meets this requirement in principle.
European Union: Silver rounds are subject to standard VAT rates in each member state (17-27%). No VAT exemption exists for silver in most EU jurisdictions.
Singapore and Hong Kong: Singapore exempts qualifying Investment Precious Metals from GST. Hong Kong has no sales tax on precious metals.
GSM Lunar vs Government-Minted Zodiac Coins
The Perth Mint Lunar Series dominates the zodiac-themed silver bullion market. It is government-minted, legal tender (Australian or Tuvalu), struck at .9999 purity, and backed by decades of collector demand that supports strong secondary market values. Perth Mint Lunar coins command significantly higher premiums than the GSM rounds, and the difference is justified by greater liquidity, better resale spreads, and government quality assurance. For buyers who plan to resell their lunar coins, the Perth Mint version will recover more of its premium at sale time.
The Royal Mint Lunar (Shengxiao) series offers UK legal tender status, which provides CGT exemption for British buyers. It is struck at .999 purity with high production quality. The Royal Canadian Mint has also produced lunar-themed coins as Canadian legal tender at .9999 purity, commanding higher premiums but offering better institutional backing.
Within the private mint space, APMEX and Asahi Refining both produce their own lunar silver rounds. Asahi's rounds are sold through GSM's website, creating an unusual situation where the two competing products share a retail platform. The differences between private mint lunar rounds are primarily aesthetic, as all share .999 purity and similar premiums.
The GSM Lunar's specific advantages are its multi-size offering (1 oz, 2 oz, and 5 oz, where many competitors only produce the 1 oz) and its long track record spanning three complete zodiac cycles. The 2 oz and 5 oz weights are less common in the private mint lunar space, giving collectors sizes that government mint programmes do not always produce in their zodiac ranges. For buyers who want every zodiac animal in a larger format at accessible premiums, the GSM series fills a gap. Copper versions of each design are also available for casual collectors who want the zodiac artwork without the silver price.
Golden State Lunar Silver: frequently asked questions
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The Golden State Mint Lunar series is an annual line of .999 fine silver rounds from Golden State Mint, a US private mint, featuring Chinese zodiac designs. Each year's release depicts that year's zodiac animal on the obverse, with all twelve animals arranged on the shared reverse. The series is now in its third 12-year cycle and is available in 1 oz, 2 oz, and 5 oz weights. These are private mint rounds, not legal tender coins.
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Golden State Mint (GSM) produces these rounds. GSM is a US private mint, not a government mint, specialising in affordable silver rounds and bars for stackers. As a private mint, its rounds carry no face value and are not legal tender in any jurisdiction. The series is IRA-approved, as the .999 fine silver purity meets the required threshold for precious metals IRAs.
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Prices track the silver spot price ($65.58), with a premium added above melt value that varies by weight and dealer. The 1 oz size typically carries the lowest per-ounce premium. Across 1 dealer tracking 9 listings, you can compare live prices to find the best deal on the specific weight you want.
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The series is available in three silver weights: 1 oz, 2 oz, and 5 oz. Each year features a new obverse design for that year's Chinese zodiac animal, while the reverse consistently shows all twelve zodiac animals in a circle. The 2 oz and 5 oz sizes are less common in private mint lunar ranges. Across 9 listings from 1 dealer, you can compare which weights are currently available.