Coins of Armenia: history

The history of the development of any state is inextricably linked with the origin and development of monetary coins. They can tell not only about the economy and politics of those or other years, but also about the way of life, culture and morals of people.

History of Armenian banknotes

The coins of Armenia begin their history during the reign of Sophenes - III century BC. The first coins from copper appeared with her. During the reign of Tigran the Great, chasing copper coins (halk) and silver coins (drachmas, tetradrachms) began. Armenian and Syrian mints were engaged in production.

During the rule of Artashesid, coins were issued that were divided into state and municipal coins. During the excavations, the money of the city of Artashat was found, which dates back to the beginning of the 1st century AD.

The drachma of silver weighed 4.36 g. Nobody weighed money from copper. Their shape can not be called perfectly round, because they were minted by hand.

The first mention of the Yerevan mint is found on the banknotes that were in circulation of the Tatar-Mongols. In the period from the 19th century until the revolution, money was only a paper sample.

Monetary signs in the post-Soviet period

After 1917 the money of the Provisional Government was issued. Then Armenia became part of Transcaucasia, and the first banknotes decorated with Armenian words began to appear. The Yerevan branch of the state bank issues checks in 1919, called temporary ones. In 1920, the first bills appeared in England.

New coins of Armenia appeared in circulation, when it became a republic within the USSR. After the formation of the Transcaucasian Federal Union until 1924, banknotes from 1 thousand to 1 billion rubles appeared. In 1924 Armenia joined the USSR, and the money was a single sample for 70 years.

Modern coins

In 1993, the Central Bank of Armenia was founded, and on November 22 of the same year, a new Armenian monetary unit was introduced - AMD. The name comes from the word "drachma" and translates as "money".

1994 was marked by the appearance of aluminum coins of 1, 3, 5, 10 drams and 10, 20, 50 lumens. In one single drama, 100 loum. Lumas got their name from the name of the ancient Roman coin - mint.

Several times I changed my design of the Armenian coin. The photos (modern money funds are made of steel, nickel, copper, aluminum and brass alloy) presented in the article show that the coins depict the emblem, the inscription "Republic of Armenia" and the verbal denomination of the denomination.

In 2003-04 A consignment of coins of a new type was produced:

• Aluminum 10 drams;
• 20 - of steel with a copper admixture;
• 50 - steel and brass;
• 100 - of nickel-plated steel;
• 200 of brass;
• 500 drams have a brass outer ring and a copper-nickel center.

Money from metal has a standard appearance. The denomination, surrounded by an unusual ornament on the obverse, and the state emblem with the inscription "Armenia" in its native language - on the reverse. Date of issue is along the rim of the coin.

Jubilee coins

The jubilee coins of Armenia (photos of which are presented in the article) are of special value. This is explained by the material of manufacture and their rarity. The first collector- type coin was issued in 1994 and had a denomination of 25 drams. It was dedicated to the Sardarapat battle of 1918 between Armenians and Turks.

The collection series "Armenian alphabet" consists of 78 coins. Of these, one half is silver, the other is gold.

There are many banknotes dedicated to the churches of Aomania, khachkars, etc. The most desired for numismatists are the following:

• Coin of 2008 with the image of the Armenian Catholicos. Its weight is 1 kg, it is entirely made of gold;
• 1000 drams is a silver coin. Released to the 100th anniversary of the birth of astrophysicist Victor Hambardzumyan. The circulation is 500 units;
• The gold monetary unit is 10 thousand drams. It is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the writer William Saroyan, who has Armenian roots. Quantity - 1 thousand coins.

The last of the jubilee coins was issued in honor of the 25th anniversary of Armenia's independence. At the moment, often there are coins in 50 drams, dedicated to 11 regions of the country.

Collective Armenian monetary units are the object of attention not only to numismatists-beginners, but also professionals of this business.