Collector coins of the Republic of Armenia - 2024
Dear reader,
The year 2024 was marked by a wealth of memorable Armenian and international cultural events, along with milestone anniversaries of distinguished figures.
From the very start of the year, a series of jubilee events in Armenia and France were held to celebrate the 100th birthday of Charles Aznavour, the world-renowned French-Armenian chansonnier, benefactor, and cherished friend of the Armenian people. The Central Bank of Armenia took its part in these events by issuing three types of gold and two types of silver collector coins as a tribute to Aznavour. Although the collector coins came in limited numbers, the expectations of the Armenian and international community were satisfied thanks to a broad range of issuances: in the domestic numismatic market, the sales of collector coins reached record highs, while steady demand began to develop internationally.
A collector coin was also issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of another famous French-Armenian, the prominent painter, engraver, and illustrator Edgar Chahine, a representative figure of 20th century European fine art.
The commemoration of the 100th birth anniversary of Sergey Parajanov, the legendary film director and true master of collage, received international publicity throughout 2024. The commemorations included a series of unique events held at various cultural centers in Armenia and the issuance of a gold coin. It is our pleasure to highlight that the anniversaries of both Charles Aznavour and Sergei Parajanov were included in UNESCO’s 2024–2025 calendar of anniversaries for prominent people and significant events.
Among the standout celebrations in Armenian literary and cultural life were the 100th birth anniversary of the renowned poet Paruyr Sevak and the 125th birth anniversary of the gifted painter and sculptor Ervand Kochar, a visual artist whose iconic monuments continue to define the spirit of Yerevan. On these occasions, the Central Bank of Armenia issued jubilee coins, which were exhibited at the Paruyr Sevak House-Museum in Zangakatun, a village in Ararat region, and at the Ervand Kochar Museum in Yerevan. The Central Bank of Armenia was awarded a certificate of appreciation from Kochar's family and the Museum for the issuance of the “Ervand Kochar-125” coin and the efforts made toward promoting the artist's legacy – an honor we deeply value.
Music enthusiasts enjoyed a major event as we celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of the world-class opera singer Gohar Gasparyan. The celebrations included concerts, exhibitions, and the issuance of a collector coin dedicated to the singer. Interestingly, the “Gohar Gasparyan-100” collector coin is the first ever issuance by the Central Bank of Armenia to portray and honor a prominent female figure.
Another milestone of the year was the 150th anniversary of the founding of Gevorkian Theological Seminary – the oldest higher education establishment in Armenia, founded by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Central Bank of Armenia issued a collector coin on this occasion to highlight the seminary’s crucial role in the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian culture, science, and education.
The “EAEU-10” collector coin, marking the anniversary of the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union, was issued as part of the international numismatic program. Continuing a valued tradition, all EAEU member states participated in the program.
As in previous years, in 2024, the Central Bank of Armenia participated in the 18th “Coin Constellation” international numismatic competition, showcasing its coin issues from the past year. The silver collector coin “Ararat-73 – 50th Anniversary of Golden Double” earned the prestigious “People’s Choice” award, while the 500-dram circulating commemorative coin, issued in honor of the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the Armenian dram, secured third place in the “Best Circulation Coin” category.
I sincerely hope that the Central Bank of Armenia’s issuances of 2024 will continue to captivate numismatists, collectors, and the global public.
Martin Galstyan,
Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia