COLLECTOR COINS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Holy Lance

COLLECTOR COINS 2013

Nominal Value	Metal and Stamp	Wight gr	Diametr	Circulation	Edge	Quality
1000 dram	silver 925	25,0 g	27,0 x 47,0 mm	2500 pcs	ribbed	proof

With the issuance of this collector coin, new series titled Treasures of Etchmiadzin started as part of the international numismatic program "History of Armenia", which includes the series Cross-stones of Armenia and Armenian Monasteries and Churches. The Holy Lance is the spear with which a Roman legionary centurion Longinus pierced the side of Jesus Christ. As the Gospel of John says, "one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water" (John 19:34). The history goes that the mixture of blood and water dripping out of Christ's wounds spattered on the eyes of Longinus and treated them, restoring his eyesight. That's why he converted into a Christian, long preached in the Middle East with the Holy Lance. St Thaddeus, one of the 12 apostles of Christ, brought the Holy Lance to Armenia in 30s of the first century AD. The Holy Lance has since been one of the sacred relics of Christianity. Originally, it was kept in different places of worship in historical Armenia, and since the 13th century, in Ayrivank monastery (which was called Geghardavank afterwards). This sacred relic kept in Ayrivank made the monastery one of the most significant places of pilgrimage in medieval times. There is an ample of evidence that in Armenia and neighboring countries the Holy Lance was used in order to bless the land and the people and to safeguard them from wars and disasters. In 1760s, the Holy Lance was brought to Etchmiadzin and it is still there, in the museum of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, packed in the silver icon with foldable side flaps. The Holy Lance is one of the three main shrines sanctified by the Holy Myrrh. Obverse of the coin depicts the coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia and reverse depicts the Holy Lance in the silver icon with foldable side flaps.

The design of the coin and the informational booklet are created with assitance of the Holy Etchmiadzin's specialists. Minted in the Mayer Mint, Germany. In circualtion since 24. 12. 2013.

20 Years of National Currency

COLLECTOR COINS 2013

Nominal Value	Metal and Stamp	Wight gr	Diametr	Circulation	Edge	Quality
1000 dram	silver 999	31,1 g	38,0 mm	500 pcs	even, numbered	proof, pad-printing

The coin is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of introduction of Armenian currency, the Dram. On September 21, 1991, Armenia's independence was declared. This brought about the need to have a national currency. On November 22, 1993, the first series of banknotes were put into circulation in the Republic of Armenia. With design works delivered for the first series of banknotes, the Central Bank of Armenia has actually started the tradition of presenting Armenia's cultural and historical heritage on the notes and coins. For the issuance of the second series of banknotes, much attention was paid to the improvement of security features and quality aspects of the banknotes and modern solutions of security technologies were introduced. There are up to 17 security features applied to the Armenian banknotes, which meet the internationally accepted standards of security printing. Currently, the money cycle involves circulation, collector, commemorative and investment coins. Since 1994, the Central Bank of Armenia has issued more than 180 gold and silver coins which are dedicated to important historical and cultural events and anniversaries in Armenia. The Central Bank of Armenia's coordinated efforts aimed at improving the quality of banknotes, have proved effective as its notes and coins have repeatedly won awards at prestigious international contests and been highly praised by the international community. Obverse of the coin depicts the coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia and the logotype of the 20th anniversary. On the background of the coat of arms, there are depictions resembling security features of Armenian banknotes (guilloche and security thread). Reverse of the coin depicts the building of the Central Bank of Armenia and depictions resembling security features of Armenian banknotes (guilloche and see-through ornament).

COLLECTOR COINS 2013

Vahram Papazyan - 125

Ara Beqaryan - 100

Stepan Aghajanian - 150

Benjamin Margaryan - 100

Letters of the Armenian Alphabet (gold)

Letters of the Armenian Alphabet (silver)

20 Years of National Currency

Holy Lance

COLLECTOR COINS 2014

Centenary of Hovhannes Shiraz’s Birth

Centenary of Eduard Isabekyan’s Birth

400th Anniversary of Voskan Yerevantsi ’ s Birth

THE RIGHT HAND OF GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR

Cauldron for holy chrism

The Oldest Trees of the World

Skhtorashen Platanus

Hundred Horse Chestnut

General Sherman Tree

Angel Oak

Letters of the Armenian Alphabet

COLLECTOR COINS 2014

Letters of the Armenian Alphabet

Nominal value: 5000 dram

Metal and alloy: gold 999,90
Weight: 3,89 g
Diameter: 20,0 mm
Quality: proof / brilliant uncircualted
Edge: interrupted ribbed / ribbed
Quantity: 200 pcs / (Ա, Մ, Ս, Ր, Ն, Ի, Վ, Հ, Ե, Լ, Գ, Ո, Է, Զ, ՈՒ, Կ, Բ, Ռ, Շ, Թ, Տ) letters up to 5000 pcs (Յ, Պ, Դ, Ջ, Փ, Օ, Ք, Խ, Ժ, Ղ, Ֆ,Ծ, Ց, և, Ը, Չ, Ձ, Ճ) letters up to 1500 pcs

Price: 120 000 dram, $ 230

Nominal value: 500 dram

Metal and alloy: silver 9990

Weight: 15,55 g

Diameter: 30,0 mm

Quality: proof / brilliant uncirculated

Edge: interrupted ribbed / ribbed

Quantity: 200 pcs / (Ա, Մ, Ս, Ր, Ն, Ի, Վ, Հ, Ե, Լ, Գ, Ո, Է, Զ, ՈՒ, Կ, Բ, Ռ, Շ, Թ, Տ) letters up to 8000 pcs (Յ, Պ, Դ, Ջ, Փ, Օ, Ք, Խ, Ժ, Ղ, Ֆ,Ծ, Ց, և, Ը, Չ, Ձ, Ճ) letters up to 2000 pcs

Price: 24 000 dram, $ 50

The Central Bank of Armenia issued a series of collector coins The Letters of the Armenian Alphabet. After Christianity was proclaimed as state religion in Armenia in 301, having an Armenian alphabet and schooling became a must, not only for strengthening the country's spiritual and cultural foundation but also for political unity. Christian preaching and ceremonies needed to be served in Armenian. Creation of an Armenian alphabet could develop literature in mother tongue. The challenge, so brought forward by the church and the king, was courageously taken by Mesrop Mashtots (circa 362-440), a founder of Armenian schooling, Christian preacher, cultural and public figure. The newly created Armenian alphabet, a system of writing symbols which phonetically accurately reflected each such symbol, consisted of 36 letters. The alphabet was so perfect that it is still usable; it has only incurred minor changes and supplemented the original with 3 more letters ¨, û, ý, which read yev, o, f. The creation of the Armenian alphabet greatly contributed to the culture and science. In the 5th century, inspired with success in translating world literature, Armenian scholars did great job to develop their own literature, historiography and philosophy in mother tongue, represented in works by Agatangeghos, Pavstos Buzand, Movses Khorenatsi, Yeghishe, Ghazar Parpetsi, Davit Anhaght, Yeznik Koghbatsi, among others. The Armenian Church has canonized Mesrop Mashtots. The tomb of Mesrop Mashtots is in Oshakan village, and a monument dedicated to the Mashtots Alphabet stands on the road nearby. Many state and public institutions, schools, roads in Armenia and Diaspora are called after Mesrop Mashtots. Yerevan Matenadaran, the richest repository of ancient manuscripts, is called after his name. In 1993, an order Saint Mesrop Mashtots was established in the Republic of Armenia. Obverse of the coin depicts the coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia. Reverse of the coin depicts one particular letter of the Armenian alphabet while all the letters of the alphabet are inscribed along the rim.