The Central Bank of Armenia issued a silver commemorative coin dedicated to Centenary of Hovhannes Shiraz’s birthday.

Hovhannes Shiraz (Onik Tadevos Karapetyan, 1914-1984) is a famous Armenian poet.In 1937-1941 he studied at the Faculty of Philology of the Yerevan State University; in 1952-1956 - in the Moscow Literary Institute after M. Gorky.In 1935 Shiraz published a collection of poems “The Arrival of Spring” and an epic poem “Siamanto and Khajezare”, later - a lyrical poem “Country of the Sun" (1938) and a collection of poems “Song of Armenia” (1940).

In 1941-1945 Shiraz worked for the newspaper “Sovetakan Hayastan” as a correspondent and literary adviser. During these years he published “The Voice of the Poet” (1942), “The Book of Songs” (1942), “Lyrics” (1946) collections of poems. A three-volume collection of “The Lyrics of Armenia” (1958, 1964, 1974) earned Shiraz a high repute.Shiraz is an outstanding representative of the Armenian national and folk poetry.

His patriotic poems cover a broad subject area: historical past of the people, revival of Armenia, fate of the Armenians abroad, preservation of Armenian language (“The Miracle of Armenia: Mesrop Mashtots”, “Song of the Armenian People”, “Ode to Ararat”, “The Armenian Dante-esque”). His philosophical thoughts address the mystery of life and death, the human nature, the riddle of the eternal life values (“The Tune of Human Race”, “The Nature as Masterpiece”, “The Bible-esque”).Shiraz has a special place for mother and motherhood. Poet puts the concept of “Mother” among eternal values of the world (“My Mother”, “Mother Armenia”, etc.).

Mother as well as Mother Nature is not only a source of inspiration but also a guide to bring the impaired social life back to a normal track (“The Arrival of Spring”, “Coronation”). Fables, quatrains and translations are an integral part of the Shiraz’s legacy.Since 2002 the Shiraz Museum in Gyumri is open to welcome visitors.

Technical characteristics of the coin: mintage 500 pcs, the face value is 10000 drams. The coins are made of 900 fine gold; diameter 22 mm and weight 8.6 grams.

Obverse: the Mountain Ararat (Big Masis) and the lines from the poem “Ktak” (Will) by Hovhannes Shiraz
Reverse: the portrait of Hovhannes Shiraz

Designed by Haroutiun Samuelian (obverse), Eduard Kurghinyan (reverse).
Minted in the Lithuanian Mint.

Source of information: Central Bank of Armenia www.cba.am