Centenary of Hovhannes Shiraz’s Birth

COLLECTOR COINS 2014

Centenary of Hovhannes Shiraz’s Birth

Nominal Value	Metal and Stamp	Wight gr	Diametr	Circulation	Edge	Quality
10 000 dram	gold 900	8,6 g	22,0 mm	500 pcs	ribbed	proof

     

Price:   200 000 դրամ  -   $ 425

HOVHANNES SHIRAZ (Onik Karapetyan, 1914- 1984) is a famous Armenian poet. In 1937-1941, he studied at the Faculty of Philology of the Yerevan State University; in 1952- 1956, he continued education in the Moscow Literary Institute after M. Gorky. In 1935, Shiraz published a collection of poems "The Arrival of Spring" and an epic poem "Siamanto and Khajezare", and later, a lyrical poem "Country of the Sun" (1938) and a collection of poems "Song of Armenia" (1940). In 1941-1945, Shiraz worked for the newspaper "Soviet Armenia" as a correspondent and literary adviser. A three-volume collection of "The Lyre of Armenia" (1958, 1964 and 1974) earned Shiraz a high repute. Shiraz is an outstanding representative of the Armenian national and folk poetry. His patriotic poems cover a broad subject area: historical past of the people, revival of Armenia, fate of the Armenians abroad, preserving of Armenian language ("The Miracle of Armenia: Mesrop Mashtots", "Song of the Armenian People", "Ode to Ararat", "The Armenian Dante-esque"). His philosophical thoughts address the mystery of life and death, the human nature, the riddle of the eternal life values ("The Tune of Human Race", "The Masterpiece of Nature", "The Bible-esque"). Shiraz has a special place for mother and motherhood in his works. Poet puts the concept of "Mother" among eternal values of the world ("My Mother", "Mother as a Handful of Armenia", etc.). Mother as well as Mother Nature is not only a source of inspiration but also a guide to bring the impaired social life back to a normal track ("The Arrival of Spring", "Coronation"). Fables, quatrains and translations are an integral part of the Shiraz's legacy. Since 2002, the Shiraz Museum in Gyumri, Armenia, is open to visitors. Obverse of the coin depicts the mountain (Big Masis) Ararat and a quatrain from the poem "Last Will". Reverse of the coin portrays Hovhannes Shiraz. 

Designed by Haroutiun Samuelian (obverse), Eduard Kurghinyan (reverse). Minted in the Lithuanian Mint. In circulation since 26.04.2014.