Central Bank introduces gold collector coin honoring Avetik Isahakian

Press release by Central Bank of Armenia

On October 1, 2025, the Central Bank of Armenia put into circulation a gold collector coin dedicated to the renowned Armenian poet, prose writer, public figure, publicist, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR (1943), Avetik Isahakyan (1875-1957). 

The coin is named “150th birth anniversary of Avetik Isahakian”. 

Isahakian was born in the town of Alexandrapol (now Gyumri). He took his primary education in Alexandrapol, carried on studying at the Haritch monastery school, and later on at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of Etchmiadzin. 

In the period 1893-1895 Isahakian studied at the Department of Literature and Philosophy of the University of Leipzig, Germany.

In 1897 the first collection of Isahakian’s poems titled “Songs and Wounds” was published in Alexandrapol.

In 1909 he wrote the famous poem “Abu-Lala Mahari”, where the main character was the poet himself  – a bearer of the universal pain and suffering, and a tragedy of personality.

In addition to his literary life, Isahakian was engaged in national-political activities, for which he was repeatedly persecuted. For almost 20 years he had been forced to live and create away from his homeland – in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France. 

In 1936 Isahakian returned to his homeland. He spent the last years of his life enjoying people’s love and respect; he was given the honorable title Varpet (“Master”).

In 1946-1957 Isahakian was the chairman of the Union of Writers of Armenia.

Avetik Isahakian is a multi-genre author: he wrote poems, short stories, fables, as well as public articles, memoirs and letters related to the Armenian Issue.  

The poet’s works have been translated into many languages. Songs, symphonies, other types of music compositions have been written based on the works he created.

Many streets, schools, libraries in Armenia carry the name of Avetik Isahakian, there are house-museums named after Isahakian and monuments erected in his memory in Yerevan and Gyumri. The Union of Writers of Armenia established the “Avetik Isahakian” literary award, in honor of the poet.

Obverse: Mount Aragats, a quatrain from Avetik Isahakian’s poem “To Aragats”. 

Reverse: Avetik Isahakian’s portrait and signature.

Designers: Karapet Abrahamyan (obverse), Lusine Lalayan (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.