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| Additional information |
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| Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia |
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History:
The earliest coins found in Armenia refer to the 6-5th centuries BC. These are exclusive samples of silver coins of Achaemenian Iran, Miletus of Asia Minor and Athens of Greece.
It is known that even in the 4th century BC Achaemenian dynasty satraps of Armenia Tiribazus and Orantas have struck coins portraying their images.
The coins in Armenia appeared in circulation from the beginning of Hellenistic age (4th century BC). Owing to international trade silver coins of Alexander the Great (336-323 BC) appeared in Armenian market from Asia Minor and Mesopotamia. Armenian coins of that period were normally depicting portrait of the monarch on the obverse and mythological symbols and the name and the title of king on the reverse sides, in Greek inscriptions.
In the 3rd century BC Armenian kings of Sophene - Arsham, Kserks, Ardisares and others have struck coins, which are the first Armenian coins we know.
Relatively great number of coins have reached us from the period of Artaxiad kingdom (189 BC - 1 AD). Armenian coins have appeared in the international trade during the reign of Tigran the Great (95-55 BC). These were minted in cities of both Armenia (Artashat, Tigranakert) and Syria (Antioch, Damaskus).
Coins of the Arsacid dynasty are not known. Initially, coins of the neighboring countries, Roman Empire and Parphene Kingdom, were in circulation in Armenia. Later on, coins of Sasanyan Iran and Byzantine Empire were put into circulation.
After being conquered by Arabic Caliphate (second half of the 7th century) coins of Ummayads and, later on, of Abbasids were used in circulation. Silver dirham and copper fils represented the money of Arabic Caliphate.
At the end of the 10th century Byzantine gold coins took the place of silver dirhams, which had the role of a world money in the region. In the meantime coins of Seljuk rulers were penetrating into circulation.
Samples of the coins minted by the Bagratid dynasty (885-1045) have not reached us, though the copper coins were struck in the kingdom of Lori by the king Kuirike II (1048-1100), the representative of a Lori branch of the Bagratid dynasty. This is the first known coin in Armenian inscriptions.
A great number of Armenian coins were minted in the Armenian State of Cilicia (1080-1375) in the Middle Ages. Coins of the period of Princedom (1080-1198) are very scarce and known in unit samples. Coins of the period of Kingdom (1199-1375) are diverse and numerous. Of Cilician coins available include the ones in silver, copper and some in gold. The gold coins were called dahekan, silver coins - dram, tagvorin, and copper coins - dang, kartez, pogh. Armenian inscriptions, portraits, weight measures and appellation characterize Cilician coins.
Coins of Georgian kings which were minted of copper mainly and silver in small number entered the circulation in the northern and eastern regions of Armenia since early 13th century.
During the reign of Hetum the First (1226-1270) bilingual silver coins (in Armenian and Arabic) were minted as well.
Coins of Mongolian khans entered the circulation since the sixties of the 13th century. They minted basically silver dirhems and duo-dirhems and copper fils in small number. Later on, coins of different Moslem dynasties of Turkish origin were used in money circulation.
Coins of Iranian shahs were used in circulation in Armenia on the whole since the 16th century.
A large number of West-European thalers were penetrating into circulation since the 17th century.
Until the early 19th century, coins of Iranian shahs were circulating in eastern part and coins of Turkish sultans in western part of Armenia.
After annexing to Russian Empire diverse money issues of Russian emperors, including, for the first time, paper notes were put into circulation. |
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