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About the 5 oz Chinese Lunar Silver Round
Emirates Gold Chinese Lunar 5 oz Silver Round
This 5 oz silver round carries the Chinese Lunar zodiac theme and is attributed to Emirates Gold, a Dubai-based refinery and bullion manufacturer established in 1992. Emirates Gold is an LBMA-accredited refiner, lending credibility to its products in the international precious metals market. The round is struck in .999 fine silver and features a zodiac animal design corresponding to the Chinese lunar calendar year.
The Chinese zodiac cycle runs twelve years, with each year assigned an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Lunar-themed bullion has become one of the most popular collectible categories in the silver market, driven by both the aesthetics of the animal designs and the cultural significance of the zodiac in Chinese and broader Asian communities.
At 5 troy ounces, this round provides a substantial piece of silver that showcases the zodiac design with more surface area than a standard 1 oz round. The 5 oz lunar format was popularised by the US Mint's America the Beautiful programme and subsequently adopted by various mints for their own zodiac and commemorative designs.
Emirates Gold's position as an LBMA-accredited refiner distinguishes its products from purely private-mint rounds that lack international refinery accreditation. This accreditation means the refiner's products are accepted for London bullion market delivery, providing an additional layer of confidence in metal quality beyond the stated .999 purity marking.
5 oz Chinese Lunar Silver Round Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5 troy ounces (155.517 g) |
| Purity | .999 fine silver |
| Manufacturer | Emirates Gold |
| Legal tender | No |
| Face value | None |
| Theme | Chinese Zodiac / Lunar Calendar |
| LBMA accredited | Yes |
Each annual issue features a different zodiac animal design. The twelve animals in the cycle are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Dragon year issues typically command the highest secondary-market premiums due to the dragon's cultural significance in Chinese tradition, where it symbolises power, prosperity, and good fortune.
The round carries standard weight and purity markings. Emirates Gold's LBMA accreditation provides institutional-grade assurance of the stated .999 fine silver content, verified through the London Bullion Market Association's rigorous refiner accreditation programme. No proprietary security features (holograms, serial numbers, or micro-engraving) are documented for this product. Authentication relies on weight verification (155.517 grams), specific gravity testing, XRF analysis, or the magnet slide test. Emirates Gold has operated since 1992 from Dubai, producing investment-grade products primarily for the Middle Eastern and Asian markets.
Tax Position for Chinese Lunar Silver Rounds
As a non-legal-tender silver round, this product follows standard silver bullion tax treatment. The Chinese Lunar theme and zodiac design do not affect tax classification in any jurisdiction. The LBMA accreditation of Emirates Gold may strengthen the case for tax-exempt treatment in markets where accredited-source requirements apply.
- United States: No federal sales tax. State exemptions apply in most states that exempt precious metals (approximately 35 states). Capital gains taxed at the collectibles rate (up to 28% for holdings over one year). IRA eligibility may be strengthened by Emirates Gold's LBMA accreditation, as some custodians require products from accredited refiners, but confirmation with the specific custodian is required.
- United Kingdom: 20% VAT applies on purchase. Subject to CGT on disposal gains above the £3,000 annual allowance. No exemption for rounds regardless of theme, manufacturer, or accreditation status. The margin scheme is not available for new rounds.
- Canada: GST/HST exempt at .999 purity, meeting the federal 99.9% threshold for investment precious metals.
- Australia: GST-free as investment-grade silver (99.9%+ purity). LBMA accreditation supports the "from an accredited source" requirement.
- Singapore: GST-exempt as Investment Precious Metals (IPM) at 99.9% purity. Emirates Gold's LBMA accreditation directly supports IPM classification under MAS guidelines.
- Hong Kong: No sales tax. No import duty on precious metals of any kind.
- UAE (Emirates Gold's home market): 0% VAT on investment bullion including silver. No CGT in the UAE.
- European Union: Standard VAT rates apply to silver (17-27% by country). No investment silver exemption at EU level.
Chinese Lunar 5 oz Rounds: Comparing Available Options
The Chinese zodiac is one of the most reproduced themes in bullion, with options spanning government coins and private-mint rounds at vastly different price points. The Emirates Gold version sits in the middle of this spectrum, offering LBMA-accredited backing without sovereign mint status.
The Perth Mint Lunar series (currently Series III) is the benchmark for zodiac-themed silver bullion. Struck in .9999 fine silver as legal tender of Australia, Perth Mint Lunars carry higher premiums but offer better global liquidity, legal tender status, and superior anti-counterfeiting features. For buyers prioritising resale value and brand recognition, Perth Mint remains the default choice for zodiac silver.
The 5 oz Golden State Mint Chinese Zodiac round offers a US-produced alternative at .999 purity with competitive premiums. GSM's version has been running for multiple complete zodiac cycles, giving it reasonable brand recognition among US dealers. GSM lacks LBMA accreditation but has a 50-year production history.
The Emirates Gold version occupies a middle ground: LBMA refinery backing provides more institutional credibility than a typical private-mint round, but the product lacks the legal tender status and wider dealer recognition of Perth Mint coins. For buyers in the Middle East and Asia where Emirates Gold has stronger brand presence, these rounds may command better resale premiums than they would in Western markets.
All .999 and .9999 lunar-themed silver products share the same fundamental tax treatment (no legal tender advantages for rounds), so the choice between them comes down to premium over spot, design preference, and anticipated resale liquidity in the buyer's local market.
5 oz Chinese Lunar Silver Round: frequently asked questions
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Emirates Gold is a UAE-based precious metals refinery that issues a Chinese Lunar series of .999 fine silver rounds, releasing a new design each year tied to the 12-year zodiac cycle. Each round features the animal of that lunar year on its reverse. The series is produced as private-mint bullion rounds, not government-issued coins.
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Gift-giving and festive purchases ahead of the Lunar New Year can create a short-term uptick in demand for lunar-themed silver products. Markets with strong cultural affinity for the Chinese zodiac, such as Singapore and Hong Kong, tend to have active secondary markets for lunar silver. The broader price impact on silver overall is generally modest.