400th Anniversary of Voskan Yerevantsi ’ s Birth

COLLECTOR COINS 2014

400th Anniversary of Voskan Yerevantsi ’ s Birth

Nominal Value	Metal and Stamp	Wight gr	Diametr	Circulation	Edge	Quality
1000 dram	silver 925	33,6 g	40,0 mm	500 pcs	ribbed	proof

Price:   20 000 դրամ  -   $ 45

VOSKAN YEREVANTSI (Voskan Vardapet, 1614-1674) is an Armenian printer, publisher, linguist, and Archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He studied at the St Christ the Savior Monastery in New Julfa. In 1629, he moved to Etchmiadzin, then Yerevan for further studies. Afterwards he returned to New Julfa to serve as a priest. Later he was designated as an abbot of the St Sargis Monastery in Ushi. In 1662, Voskan Yerevantsi headed for Europe with an assignment from Catholicos Hagop Dzhugaetsi to publish the Bible in Armenian. In 1664, he took management of the printing house in Amsterdam named "Holy Etchmiadzin and St Sargis". In 1666-1668, he published the first edition of the Bible in Armenian, which was a landmark event in the development of Armenian printing culture. In Amsterdam, Voskan Yerevantsi published 14 more books, including "The Book of Grammar" written by himself, "The New Testament", "The Book of History" by Araqel Davrizhetsi, "The Fox Book" by Vardan Aigektsi. The printing house, named "Voskanyan" in honor of Voskan Yerevantsi, was active until 1686 and had by that time published 40 books in Armenian. Obverse of the coin exhibits a page from "Sharaknots" and the first Armenian print Bible in silver cover. Reverse of the coin portrays Voskan Yerevantsi (a graphical picture of Yervand Kochar, 1946).

Designed by Vardan Vardanyan. Minted in the Lithuanian Mint. In circulation since 26.04.2014