The Central Bank of Armenia issued a silver commemorative coin dedicated to the 150th anniversary of birth of Stepan Aghajanian on January 14th 2013..

This silver collector coin issued by the Central Bank of Armenia is dedicated to the centenary of Ara Beqaryan’s birth.Ara Vaghinak Beqaryan (1913–1986) is a prominent Armenian painter, a people’s artist of Armenian SSR. He graduated from Yerevan Artistry and Industry College (1932) and Leningrad All-Russian Art Academy (1939). A World War 2 participant. A lecturer in Artistry and Theater Institute in the period 1945–1986 (Professor since 1964). Beqaryan created compositional patterns, landscapes, still lives. Among them are “Entry of the 11th Army to Yerevan in 1920” (1949), “At Cradle” (1953), “A Woman Selling Flowers” (1958), “Armenia the Year 1920” (1960), “Damascus” (1967), “A Bridge in Venice” (1975), “An Armenian Dance Ver-Veri” (1981), “Saghmosavanq” (1982). He has authored many portraits, such as “Karo Ghafadaryan” (1961), “Painter A. Gharibyan” (1962), “A. Spendiaryan” (1971), as well as posters, such as “Qaj Nazar” (1958), “Beggars of High Esteem” (1962). Beqaryan had individual exhibitions in Yerevan and Moscow. The coin issued with colored inks.Designed by Eduard Kurghinyan. Minted in the Royal Dutch Mint.

The obverse of the coin dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Ara Bekaryan has a fragment from “Ashtarak” picture, the face value of 100 drams is engraved at the bottom. “HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTYUN” (The Republic of Armenia) in Armenian letters is engraved at the top and bottom of the coin.

The reverse of the coin portrays Bekaryan and has a fragment from “Qaj Nazar” (Brave Nazar) fairy tale. “ARA BEKARYAN” and “ARA BEKARYAN 1913-1986” inscriptions in Armenian letters are designed on the edges of the coin.

Technical characteristics of the coin: mintage 500 pcs, the face value is 100 drams. The coins are made of 925 fine silver; the size is 28.0х40.0 mm and weight—28.28 grams. Colored paints were used for the coin production.

Source of information: Central Bank of Armenia