Central Bank issues collector coin dedicated to 150th anniversary of birth of Alexander Spendiaryan

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. OnOctober 13, 2021 the Central Bank of Armeniaput into circulation a silvercollectorcoindedicated to the150thanniversary of Alexander Spendiaryan’s birth, the CBA said in a statement.

“Alexander Spendiaryan (1871-1928) is a great Armenian composer, conductor, pedagogue,amusical and social activist, People’s Artist of theArmenianSSR (1926).In1892-1894Spendiaryanstudied the theory of compositionwith N.Klenovsky in Moscow,and in1896-1900with N.Rimsky-Korsakov in St. Petersburg. He lived in the Crimea,got involved with conductor’s andmusicaland social activities.As a composer, he was influenced by Russian and Armenian cultures.

Since 1924 Spendiaryan livedin Yerevan. During that period hewrote the “YerevanEtudes” andcompletedthe heroic-patriotic opera“Almast”(byH. Tumanyan’s poem“The Siege of the Tmouk Castle”, libretto by S. Parnok)–one of the best works of the Armenian music theater.

Spendiaryan played a great role in the formation of the Armenian NationalComposerSchool–he enriched Armenian music with new themes, expanded the genres, laid the foundation of the Armenian national symphony. His“Crimean Sketches”,“Three Palms”, “YerevanEtudes”and other symphonic works are classic samples of Armenian symphonic music.

The Spendiaryan House-Museum was established in Yerevan.The Yerevan National Academic OperaandBallet Theater (1933)andMusic School No. 1carry the name of thecomposer”, the statement says.

Obverse:the monument to Spendiaryan (sculptors: A. Sargsyan, Gհ. Chubaryan, architects: G. Aghababyan,F. Darbinyan, 1953)against the background of the Opera and Ballet Theater building (architect A. Tamanyan, 1932) and a dancer.

Reverse:Spendiaryan’s portrait, note pages ofthe “Three Palms”, stylized images ofaviolin, inkwell and palm trees.

Designer: Vardan Vardanyan.

The coin is mintedintheLithuanian Mint.

Technical specificationof the collector coin

Face value 1000dram

Metal/finenesssilver9250

Weight 33,6g

Diameter 40,0mm

Quality proof

Edge ribbed

Quantity of issue 500 pcs

Year of issue2021

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.