Collector coins of the Republic of Armenia-2013
Dear Reader
This annual journal Collector Coins of the Republic of Armenia introduces new collector coins which the Central Bank of Armenia issued in 2013. The coins mark anniversaries and other important events we had during the year.
On November 22, 2013, the Republic of Armenia celebrated the 20th anniversary of introduction of the national currency, the Dram. Over these years, the Dram has gone through major changes to become a modern and secure currency. By production quality, protection level and attractiveness, our currency is favorably among the world's leading currencies. In addition to circulating coins and banknotes, the Central Bank of Armenia now issues commemorative coins, investment coins and collector coins. With an upward path aimed at improving the issuance of the national currency and strengthening the independence of the statehood, the Central Bank of Armenia carried out a number of events in 2013 dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Dram, and put into circulation the coin 20 Years of National Currency.
The year was also outstanding for an unprecedented numismatic program, under which gold and silver coins of the series Letters of the Armenian Alphabet were issued. This milestone event was the Central Bank's tribute to Mesrop Mashtots, a prominent Armenian scholar and Christianity proponent, who created the Armenian letters in 405_406 and therefore pioneered an independent Armenian literature as well as translation literature. This has tremendously contributed to the strengthening of Christianity in Armenia. The coins of the series Letters of the Armenian Alphabet includes all 39 letters of the Armenian alphabet.
Year 2013 saw more issuances of collector coins dedicated to a renowned Armenian actor Vahram Papazyan's 125th anniversary of birth, painters Ara Beqaryan's 100th anniversary of birth and Stepan Aghajanian's 150th anniversary of birth, a world_famous astrophysicist Benjamin Margaryan's 100th anniversary of birth. It has been our pleasure to know these coins celebrate the life of these greatest devotees and once again manifest how they contributed to the national art and the development of science.
In 2013, the Central Bank of Armenia issued a silver collector coin Holy Lance from the new series titled Treasures of Etchmiadzin as part of the international numismatic program "History of Armenia", under which there have been issued coins of the series Cross_stones of Armenia and Armenian Monasteries and Churches. Not only this series is important in terms of involvement of Armenian and world Christian symbols, but it gives lasting human values a new meaning.
I would like to refer to a great event taken place in an Italian city of Vicenza in 2013, as our silver collector coin 500th Anniversary of Armenian Book Printing proudly won the first place at Vicenza Numismatica 10th international coin contest and was awarded the title "The Best Coin of the Year". Happily, this coincided with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the national currency, which best reflected the Central Bank's achievements in this field.
Arthur Javadyan
Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia