1 oz PAMP Fortuna Silver Bar
Anyone starting with physical silver usually faces the same question as with gold: bar or coin, and from whom? The 1 oz PAMP Fortuna silver bar is one of the most direct answers – a troy ounce of pure silver from a leading Swiss refinery, in a protective blister with a certificate and with a design the whole market knows. This article sums up what lies behind the bar, how it differs from the gold Lady Fortuna and who it makes sense for.
The bar at a glance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1 troy ounce (31.1 g) |
| Fineness | 999/1000 Ag |
| Manufacturer | PAMP, Switzerland |
| Design | Lady Fortuna, goddess of fortune |
| Packaging | original blister with certificate |
| VAT | not exempt (unlike gold) |
Why an ounce
The troy ounce is the most traded unit of investment silver worldwide. Prices on world exchanges are quoted in ounces, and stocks and market deficits are stated in ounces. For investors this has two practical consequences: you can easily check the price against spot at any time, and any dealer in the world will recognise the bar.
With silver this matters even more than with gold. The silver market is smaller and less liquid, so a standardised format is an advantage – non-standard pieces are harder to sell and carry a wider gap between the buying and selling price.
999 fineness, not 999.9 – and why that is fine
For investment gold, 999.9/1000 is the standard. For silver, 999/1000 is the usual standard, and this bar meets it. It is not a shortcoming but an established norm arising from how silver is refined and worked. The fineness and weight are confirmed by the certificate in the blister. Why it pays to keep the packaging intact is explained in the article Why buy new bars in blister packaging.
Who is PAMP
PAMP is a Swiss refinery that is one of the best-known names in the industry and is on the LBMA Good Delivery list – the international quality standard for precious metals refineries. Bars bearing its logo are traded worldwide. The brand’s history is described in the article The story of the PAMP brand. The Lady Fortuna design, the Roman goddess of fortune, is the most recognisable in PAMP’s range – and the relief is not just aesthetic; it also makes imitation harder.
Silver vs. gold: two differences you need to know
VAT. Investment gold is exempt from VAT in the EU. Investment silver is generally not exempt, and the tax is already included in the price shown. This is the most common surprise for anyone moving from gold to silver.
Volatility. Silver is both an investment metal and an industrial raw material – more than half of demand comes from industry. It therefore reacts more sensitively to the economic cycle and fluctuates more in both directions than gold. What that means in practice is shown in the article Silver breaks records: a sixth straight deficit year.
Who the bar makes sense for
- For getting started with precious metals – the entry price is far lower than for gold, so you can start with a small amount.
- For regular smaller purchases – an ounce is large enough to be meaningful and small enough to buy repeatedly. The strategy is described in the article Buying gold regularly.
- As a complement to gold – silver is usually combined with gold in a portfolio rather than replacing it. The differences are explained in the article Gold or silver: what to invest in.
Bar or coin?
With silver, the choice between bar and coin is sharper than with gold. A bar has no face value or state minting but a lower premium over the metal price – for the same money you get more silver. A coin offers international recognition and collector appeal; the best-known pieces are compared in the article Silver coins: American Eagle, Maple Leaf, Krugerrand. If the goal is to accumulate as much metal as possible, the bar wins. Many investors hold both.
Alternatives in our range
In the same weight we also offer the Nadir Metal 1 oz silver bar, which is usually more affordable. The PAMP Fortuna bar itself is on the 1 oz PAMP Fortuna silver bar page, and the whole range is in the investment silver category.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the silver bar have a fineness of 999 rather than 999.9 like gold?
For investment silver, 999/1000 is the established world standard, just as 999.9/1000 is for gold. It is not lower quality but a market norm.
Is VAT charged on the silver bar?
Yes. Investment silver is generally not exempt from VAT; the price shown already includes it. Investment gold, by contrast, is exempt.
Is the bar suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. The entry price is much lower than for gold, and the ounce is a globally traded unit that sells easily.
Should I open the blister?
No. The intact original blister protects the surface and, together with the certificate, confirms the weight and fineness. Opened packaging makes a later sale harder.
Does GOLDU buy back investment silver?
No. We sell investment silver but do not buy it back – we buy back only investment gold bars and coins. Details are in the conditions for the purchase of investment gold.
About the author
Adolf Baumann, analyst at Baumann Group a.s. (GOLDU), has been working with precious metals for over 30 years. He has seen euphoria, crashes and panic on the markets – and he still enjoys it. He explains in plain language what moves the price of gold and silver and how to handle them without unnecessary mistakes. His weakness? He refuses to wear a suit.
