Zodiac Silver

Monarch Precious Metals Zodiac: Antique-Finish Silver Rounds for Every Star Sign

The Zodiac series from Monarch Precious Metals covers all twelve western astrological signs in .999 fine silver, each rendered in ultra high relief with an antique finish and individual hand polishing. Available primarily as 1 oz silver rounds, the series also extends to 2 oz and 5 oz rounds, plus 1 oz bars and 1 oz coins.

Monarch Precious Metals is a family-owned private mint, founded in 2008 as Oregon Coin and Jewelry in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon, later relocating to Phoenix, Oregon. The company started with a small jewelry-store induction melter, hand-pouring and hand-stamping silver bars with individual letter stamps. The Zodiac rounds represent the mint's more polished machine-struck production, applying the same attention to finish quality that built Monarch's reputation in the hand-pour market.

The antique finish is the defining visual characteristic. Applied deliberately rather than acquired through age, it gives each round an archaic, artifact-like appearance that complements the zodiac theme. The hand-polishing step highlights the ultra high relief details, creating contrast between raised and recessed surfaces that flat-finished bullion lacks.

These are not government-issued coins. They carry no face value, no denomination, and no sovereign backing. The appeal is aesthetic and collectible: a complete set covering Aries through Pisces, purchased as a thematic collection or as personalised gifts matching the recipient's star sign.

Zodiac Round Specifications

The Twelve Signs

The complete series covers Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Each round includes the zodiac sign's date range engraved on the reverse alongside its astrological symbol.

The common obverse features a combined sun and moon face superimposed on each other, set among stars, with the metal weight and purity inscribed around the border. Each reverse features the zodiac sign's traditional symbol surrounded by intricate detailing, including a ring showing all 12 signs of the zodiac arranged around the outer border. This border ring creates visual continuity across the set: any individual round works as a standalone piece, but together the twelve pieces form a unified display where every round references the complete zodiac cycle.

The antique finish is applied as a deliberate patina rather than being a sign of age or wear. It gives each round an archaic, artifact-like appearance. The subsequent hand-polishing step is what creates the contrast between raised and recessed surfaces, highlighting the ultra high relief details that flat-finished rounds cannot achieve. No government-backed security features, holograms, or micro-text are present, as expected for a private mint product.

Tax Treatment for Monarch Zodiac Rounds

As private mint silver rounds with no legal tender status, the Zodiac series receives the least favourable tax treatment available for silver bullion in most jurisdictions. The absence of sovereign backing and the private mint origin are the key factors.

• United States: No federal sales tax. State-level exemptions vary; many states exempt all bullion regardless of issuer, but some states only exempt government-issued coins. Not IRA-eligible. Precious metals IRAs require products from NYMEX/COMEX-approved refiners or national government mints, and Monarch Precious Metals does not meet either criterion. Capital gains are taxed at the 28% collectibles rate for holdings over one year.
• United Kingdom: Subject to 20% VAT as silver bullion. No CGT exemption, since these are not legal tender of any country. Private mint rounds from a small US producer are an uncommon product in the UK market, and dealer availability is limited.
• Canada: Subject to GST/HST. Not RRSP-eligible or TFSA-eligible. The .999 purity meets the 99.9% threshold, but form and issuer requirements may apply.
• Australia: Subject to 10% GST. Private mint rounds may not meet the investment-grade precious metals definition for GST exemption.
• New Zealand: Subject to 15% GST. The .999 purity meets the threshold, but the round must qualify under the fine bullion definition.
• Singapore: Not on the MAS-approved IPM list. Subject to 9% GST.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax. The private mint origin is irrelevant in this jurisdiction.

Monarch Zodiac vs Other Zodiac and Private Mint Silver

The western zodiac theme distinguishes these rounds from the Chinese zodiac products that dominate the bullion market. The Perth Mint Lunar series, Royal Canadian Mint Lunar coins, and British Royal Mint Lunar series all use the 12-year Chinese animal cycle. Buyers who want western astrological signs rather than Chinese zodiac animals have fewer options, and the Monarch Zodiac is one of the most accessible.

The Tokelau Signs of the Zodiac is the closest competitor covering western zodiac signs. The Tokelau coins carry a $5 NZD face value as legal tender, use .999 purity, and are available through major dealers. The legal tender status gives the Tokelau series an advantage for tax treatment in some jurisdictions. The Monarch rounds counter with the ultra high relief antique finish that the Tokelau coins lack.

The Austrian Mint's "In the Stars" series also covers western zodiac signs, but in .925 sterling silver at proof quality with gemstone inlays and a 30,000 mintage per design. At a 20 Euro face value with substantial premiums over melt, the Austrian series targets a collector market well above the Monarch rounds' price point. The two products compete for different buyers.

Within the private mint space, Monarch competes with various other producers (SilverTowne, Elemetal) who have released zodiac-themed rounds. Monarch differentiates on the ultra high relief striking and hand-polished antique finish, which create a more visually distinctive product than the flat-finish rounds from other private mints. For buyers who want silver at the lowest premium, sovereign mint products like the Silver Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle remain the benchmark.