Կենտրոնական բանկ

On February 12, 2026, the Central Bank of Armenia puts into circulation the “Presentation of the Lord to the Temple” silver and gold collector coins.

Collector coins dedicated to the “Presentation of the Lord to the Temple” holiday

Presentation of the Lord to the Temple is one of the traditional holidays of the Armenian people, celebrated on February 14, forty days after Christmas and Epiphany (January 6).
According to Christian tradition, the Holy Mother of God brings the 40-day-old Jesus to the temple to receive God’s blessing, where the elder Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, meets the infant Jesus and recognizes in Him the Savior of the world and humanity. Hence the name of the holiday – “Presentation of the Lord to the Temple”.
In the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, on the eve of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple, after the evening service, people take fire from the church lamps to their homes as a symbol of the light of Christ. On the day of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple, a blessing ceremony for newlyweds is performed through which the Lord’s abundant graces are bestowed upon their families.
Traditionally, newlyweds, young men and women light bonfires in their yards, dance around it, holding hands, jump over the fire as a symbol of purification and liberation from pain and sorrow. Festive sweets, like pokhindz (small balls formed from toasted wheat flour), halva, and aghandz (a mixture of roasted wheat and hemp grains supplemented with raisins) are prepared. The ashes of the bonfire are scattered on the courtyard land, in hope of abundance and fruitfulness for the year.
The Presentation of the Lord to the Temple is a beloved feast of light and joy, with traditions that endure to this day.

Obverse: photo from the manuscript “Gospel of Mоghni” (11th century, parchment, “Matenadaran” M. Mashtots Scientific Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts).
Reverse: images of a newlywed couple and fire.

Designer: Anna Kurghinyan.
The coins are minted at the Royal Dutch Mint.