The Central Bank of Armenia issued a silver commemorative coin dedicated to The centenary of Benjamin Margaryan’s birth 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.Benjamin Yeghishe Margaryan (born 1913 in Shulaver, died 1985 in Yerevan) is a world renowned astrophysicist, an academician of ASSR Academy of Sciences, an Honored Armenian Scientist.Since 1942 Margaryan worked in the Byurakan Observatory, where in 1956-1985 served as head of Galaxy Studies Unit. In 1976-1979 he was a president of “Galaxies” Commission at the International Astronomical Society.Margaryan’s works mainly refers to the problems in stellar and off-galaxy astronomy. He participated in the development of a theory of fluctuations being observed in stellar distribution and discovered that star clusters broaden. Margaryan designed a method by which the Byurakan Observatory launched a stellar survey in 1965. He discovered galaxies with excessive amounts of ultraviolet emissions known in astrology as “Margaryan Galaxies”. Designed by Vardan Vardanyan. Minted in the Royal Dutch Mint.

Stars and galaxies appear on the heads of it, the face value of 1000 drams and the year of issue—2013—appears at the bottom. “HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTYAN KENTRONAKAN BANK” in Armenian letters (The Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia) is engraved on the contour of the coin.

The reverse side illustrates the portrait of the astronomer and the galaxies discovered by him. “BENIAMIN MARGARYAN” in Armenian letters and “BENJAMIN MARGARYAN” in English letters as well as “1913-1985” are engraved at the top and bottom of the side.

Technical characteristics of the coin: mintage 500 pcs, the face value is 1000 drams. The coins are made of 925 fine silver; diameter 40 mm and weight 33.6 grams.

Source of information: Central Bank of Armenia