Issuance of a new collector coin of the Republic of Armenia
The Central Bank of Armenia puts into circulation “100th birth anniversary of Gerard L. Cafesjian” gold collector coin
On April 21, 2025, the Central Bank of Armenia puts into circulation “100th birth anniversary of Gerard L. Cafesjian” gold collector coin.
Cоllector coin dedicated to the 100th birth anniversary of Gerard L. Cafesjian
GERARD LEON CAFESJIAN (1925–2013), a well-known Armenian-American businessman and benefactor.
He was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, to an Armenian family that immigrated to the United States in the years preceding the Armenian Genocide. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and participated in World War II.
He studied at Hunter College and St. John’s University Law School in New York. He was a member of the New York Bar Association.
In the 1950s, Cafesjian began his long-term professional career at West Publishing, where, years later, he assumed the position of the company’s executive vice president. Having achieved business success, Cafesjian became involved in charitable activities, focusing mainly on Armenia. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Armenian Genocide Museum in Washington, D.C. and made a significant donation to the Museum and to the construction of a memorial to the victims of the genocide.
In 1996, he created the Cafesjian Family Foundation, which has financed numerous pro-patriotic projects. In 2009, the Cafesjian Center for the Arts opened in the Cascade architectural complex in Yerevan. The Center serves as a unique platform where people may enjoy the artworks from Cafesjian’s private collection, the exquisite and standout works of famous artists representing various trends in art. The complex, which receives more than a million visitors a year, has now become one of the most important cultural landmarks in Yerevan.
A carousel with cultural and historical value in Minnesota bears Cafesjian’s name in recognition of his efforts to prevent the dismantling and sale of the carousel.
Obverse: the monument symbolizing the collective image of an Armenian benefactor (“Alley of Armenian Benefactors” memorial complex, author: F. Arakelyan), the inscriptions «ԵՐԱԽՏԱՊԱՐՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ» (“Gratitude” in Armenian) and “GRATITUDE”.
Reverse: the portrait of Gerard L. Cafesjian and the image of the jewel “Park City Circus Parade” (author: M. Ricker).
Designers: Haroutiun Samuelian (obverse), Vardan Vardanyan (reverse).
The coin is minted at the Mint of Poland.
Technical specification
Face value 10 000 dram
Metal/fineness gold 9000
Weight 8,6 g
Diameter 22,0 mm
Quality proof
Edge ribbed
Quantity of issue 300 pcs
Year of issue 2025
Notice
Collector coins are made of precious metals and are issued to present to the society the national, international, historical and cultural, spiritual and other values of the country, to immortalize these values in the metal and to meet the demands of the numismatic market.
Like any other currency the collector coins have face value which makes them the means of payment. However, the face value of these coins is much lower that their cost price which includes the cost of the precious metal used for manufacturing of the coin, mintage and other expenses. Low face value and high-cost price allow these coins to be considered as the items of collection and not the means of payment used in money circulation. The collector coins have also the sale price set by the Central Bank of Armenia.
As the items of collection, the collector coins are issued in very restricted quantities and are not reissued.
Numismatists, collectors and all interested persons can buy the Armenian collector coins in the sales salon “Numismatist” which is in the building of the Central Bank of Armenia and is open for everyone. You can find the prices for numismatic items presented in the “Numismatist” sales salon at the following link: https://www.cba.am/Storage/EN/currency/Dramaget_eng.pdf
