Armenian dram

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:Citation style Template:Infobox currency The Armenian dram (Template:Langx; sign: ֏; abbreviation: դր.; ISO code: AMD) is the currency of Armenia. It was historically subdivided into 100 luma (Template:Lang). The Central Bank of Armenia is responsible for issuance and circulation of dram banknotes and coins, as well as implementing the monetary policy of Armenia.

The word dram means "money" and is cognate with the Greek drachma and the Arabic dirham, as well as the English weight unit dram.

History

Template:See also The first instance of a "dram" currency was in the period from 1199 to 1375, when silver coins called dram or tram were issued.<ref>Smbat Minasyan, Armenian Coins – History of Armenian coinage – Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Armenian History</ref> Dram or Takvorin coinage would periodically continue to be produced for some time until the loss of Armenia's independence. The establishment of Russian Armenia saw the adoption of the Imperial ruble, followed by a series of attempts to localize the Russian ruble under the Soviet Union and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). On 21 September 1991, a national referendum proclaimed Armenia as a republic independent from the Soviet Union. The Central Bank of Armenia, established on 27 March 1993, was given the exclusive right of issuing the national currency.

In the immediate aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union attempts were made to maintain a common currency (the Russian rouble) among CIS states. Armenia joined this rouble zone. However it soon became clear that maintaining a currency union in the unstable political and economical circumstances of the post-Soviet states would be very difficult. The Rouble Zone effectively collapsed with the unilateral 1993 Russian monetary reform process. As a result, the remaining CIS participants – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Armenia and Georgia – were 'pushed out' and forced to introduce separate currencies. Armenia was one of the last countries to do so when it introduced the dram on 22 November 1993.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Armenian dram sign

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File:Dramsign-oiriginal-idea.jpg
The dram sign

As the result of common business practice and the unique pattern of Armenian letters, the shape of the sign and its variations appeared in the business scratches (daybooks). Until the official endorsement of the sign a number of artists and businessmen developed and offered various shapes for it. Now the dram symbol is included in the Armenian standard for the national characters and symbols and in the Armenian computer fonts. The current standard sign for the Armenian dram (֏, image: Template:Armenian dram; Template:Langx; code: AMD) was designed in 1995. In Unicode, it is encoded at Template:Unichar.

Coins

In 1994, a first series of aluminium coins was introduced in denominations of 10, 20, and 50 luma, 1, 3, 5, and 10 drams. In 2003 and 2004, a second series consisting of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 dram coins was introduced to replace the first series.

The Central Bank has also issued a great number of commemorative coins intended for sale to collectors. A listing can be found at the authorized central bank distributors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

First series (1994–2002)

In 1994, a first series of aluminium coins was introduced in denominations of 10, 20, and 50 luma, 1, 3, 5, and 10 drams. The other coins are officially in circulation but rarely used because of their low nominal value.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Armenian Central Bank. www.cba.am</ref>

First series (1994)
Image Value Technical parameters Description
Obverse Reverse Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse
File:AM 1994 averse.png File:AM 1994 10 luma.png 10 luma<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 16 mm 0.6 g Aluminium Smooth Armenian coat of arms Value, year of minting
File:AM 1994 averse.png File:AM 1994 20 luma.png 20 luma<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 18 mm 0.75 g
File:AM 1994 averse.png File:AM 1994 50 luma.png 50 luma<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 20 mm 0.95 g
File:AM 1994 averse.png File:AM 1994 1 dram.png ֏1<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 22 mm 1.4 g Reeded
File:AM 1994 averse.png File:AM 1994 3 dram.png ֏3<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 24 mm 1.65 g
File:AM 1994 averse.png File:AM 1994 5 dram.png ֏5<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 26 mm 2 g Smooth
File:AM 1994 averse.png File:AM 1994 10 dram.png ֏10<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 28 mm 2.3 g
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  • All coins bear the year of the first issue (1994).

Second series (2003–present)

In 2003 and 2004, a new series of coins was introduced in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 drams.

Second series (2003-2004)
Image Value Technical parameters Description
Obverse Reverse Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse
File:AM 2004 10 dram a.png File:AM 2004 10 dram r.png ֏10<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 20 mm 1.3 g Aluminium Reeded Armenian coat of arms Value, ornaments,
year of minting
File:AM 2003 20 dram a.png File:AM 2003 20 dram r.png ֏20<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 20.5 mm 2.75 g Copper-plated Steel Smooth
File:AM 2003 50 dram a.png File:AM 2003 50 dram r.png ֏50<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 21.5 mm 3.45 g Brass-plated steel Reeded
File:AM 2003 100 dram a.png File:AM 2003 100 dram r.png ֏100<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 22.5 mm 4 g Nickel-plated Steel
File:AM 2003 200 dram a.png File:AM 2003 200 dram r.png ֏200<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 24 mm 4.5 g Brass
File:AM 2003 500 dram a.png File:AM 2003 500 dram r.png ֏500<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 22 mm 5 g Bi-Metallic Copper-nickel center in Brass ring Segmented reeding
Template:Standard coin table notice
  • All coins bear the year of the first issue (2003 or 2004).

Banknotes

A first series of banknotes was issued in November 1993. It was withdrawn from circulation by 2005. A second series was issued from 1998 onwards which is still in use at present.

First series (1993–1998)

On 22 November 1993, banknotes of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 drams were issued.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Notes for ֏1,000 and ֏5,000 were put into circulation later.

First series (1993–1998)
Image Value Dimensions Main Color Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
File:10 Armenian dram - 1993 (obverse).png File:10 Armenian dram - 1993 (reverse).png ֏10 125 x 62 mm Brown and purple Yerevan Train Station and David of Sasun statue Mount Ararat
File:25 Armenian dram - 1993 (obverse).png File:25 Armenian dram - 1993 (reverse).png ֏25 Yellow, brown and blue Urartian cuneiform tablet and a lion relief from Erebuni fortress Ornaments
File:50 Armenian dram - 1993 (obverse).png File:50 Armenian dram - 1993 (reverse).png ֏50 Blue and red National Gallery and History Museum of Armenia Armenian parliament building
File:100 Armenian dram - 1993 (obverse).png File:100 Armenian dram - 1993 (reverse).png ֏100 Blue, purple and red Mount Ararat and Zvartnots Cathedral Yerevan Opera Theatre
File:200 Armenian dram - 1993 (obverse).png File:200 Armenian dram - 1993 (reverse).png ֏200 135 x 62 mm Brown, green, yellow and red Saint Hripsime Church in Echmiadzin Ornaments
File:500 Armenian dram - 1993 (obverse).png File:500 Armenian dram - 1993 (reverse).png ֏500 Green, brown and blue Mount Ararat and a Tigranes the Great tetradrachm
File:1000 Armenian dram - 1994 (obverse).png File:1000 Armenian dram - 1994 (reverse).png ֏1,000 145 x 68 mm Brown and orange Mesrop Mashtots statue and Matenadaran 7th century obelisk monument in Aghitu Memorial
File:5000 Armenian dram - 1995 (obverse).png File:5000 Armenian dram - 1995 (reverse).png ֏5,000 145 x 71 mm Green, yellow and purple Temple of Garni Bronze head of goddess Anahit (Satala Aphrodite) kept in the British Museum
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Second series (1998–2017)

Banknotes of ֏50, ֏100, and ֏500 are rarely seen in circulation. Coins of ֏50, ֏100, and ֏500 are used instead.
A commemorative ֏50,000 note was issued on 4 June 2001 in commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Armenia.

Second series (1998–2017)
Image Value Dimensions Main Color Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
File:50 Armenian dram - 1998 (obverse).png File:50 Armenian dram - 1998 (reverse).png ֏50 122 x 65  mm Pink, blue and grey Aram Khachaturian (1903–1978) and Armenian Opera Theater A scene from the ballet Gayane by Khachaturian, and Mount Ararat
File:100 Armenian dram - 1998 (obverse).png File:100 Armenian dram - 1998 (reverse).png ֏100 Blue and grey Viktor Hambardzumyan (1908–1996) Byurakan Observatory
File:500 Armenian dram - 1999 (obverse).png File:500 Armenian dram - 1999 (reverse).png ֏500 129 x 72 mm Grey Alexander Tamanian (1878–1936) Government House in Yerevan designed by Alexander Tamanyan
File:1,000 Armenian dram - 1999 (obverse).png File:1,000 Armenian dram - 1999 (reverse).png ֏1,000 136 x 72 mm Green and pink Yeghishe Charents (1897–1937) An image of old Yerevan depicting the government building of the First Republic
File:5,000 Armenian dram - 1999 (obverse).png File:5,000 Armenian dram - 1999 (reverse).png ֏5,000 143 x 72 mm Yellow and green Hovhannes Tumanyan (1869–1923) Nature scene from Lori, from one of Martiros Saryan's paintings
File:10,000 Armenian dram - 2003 (obverse).png File:10,000 Armenian dram - 2003 (reverse).png ֏10,000 150 x 72 mm Purple Avetik Isahakyan (1875–1957) An image of old Gyumri
File:20,000 Armenian dram - 1999 (obverse).png File:20,000 Armenian dram - 1999 (reverse).png ֏20,000 155 x 72 mm Yellow, red and brown Martiros Saryan (1880–1972) Detail from an Armenian landscape by Martiros Saryan
File:50,000 Armenian dram - 2001 (obverse).png File:50,000 Armenian dram - 2001 (reverse).png ֏50,000 160 x 79 mm Brown and red Etchmiadzin Cathedral St. Gregory the Illuminator and king Tiridates the Great holding a symbol representing the Armenian Church; on the right, a khachkar from Kecharis Monastery.
File:100,000 Armenian dram - 2009 (obverse).jpg File:100,000 Armenian dram - 2009 (reverse).jpg ֏100,000 160 x 72 mm Blue Abgar V of Edessa Abgar V of Edessa receiving the mandylion from St. Thaddeus (not pictured).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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500 dram commemorative note (2017)

A 500 dram commemorative note was issued on 22 November 2017 to commemorate both the story of Noah's Ark and the 25th anniversary of Armenia's national currency.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

commemorative note (2017)
Image Value Dimensions Main Color Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
File:500 Armenian dram - 2017 (obverse).png File:500 Armenian dram - 2017 (reverse).png ֏500 140 × 76 mm Brown and grey Reliquary containing a fragment of Noah's Ark (left); etching by Friedrich Parrot of Etchmiadzin Cathedral with Mount Ararat in the background Etching by Jacob Carolsfeld of Noah, his family members and animals against the background of Mount Ararat
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Third series (2018–present)

A third series of Armenian dram banknotes was issued in 2018, All denominations for this series are the same as its previous issues, with the 2,000 dram banknote as a newly introduced denomination, the 50,000 dram banknote re-issued for this series and the omission of the 50, 100, 500, and 100,000 dram banknotes for this issue. The new series are printed on hybrid substrates of Louisenthal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The first three denominations, ֏10,000, ֏20,000 and ֏50,000, were issued on November 22, 2018 to mark 25 years of Armenian currency. The final three denominations, ֏1,000, ֏2,000 and ֏5,000 were issued on December 25, 2018.

Third series (2018–present)
Image Value Dimensions Main Color Description
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse
File:1000 dram 2018 Obverse.jpg File:1000 dram 2018 Reverse.jpg ֏1,000 130 × 72 mm Violet Paruyr Sevak (1924–1971), poems Paryur Sevak house (museum), Zangakatun; statue of Sevak
File:2000 dram 2018 Obverse.jpg File:2000 dram 2018 Reverse.jpg ֏2,000 135 × 72 mm Brown Tigran Petrosian (1929–1984), chessboard Tigran Petrosian Chess House (Yerevan), statue of Petrosyan
File:5000 dram 2018 Obverse.jpg File:5000 dram 2018 Reverse.jpg ֏5,000 140 × 72 mm Red William Saroyan (1908–1981), covers from Saroyan's books, mountain Statue of Saroyan (Yerevan)
File:10000 dram 2018 Obverse.jpg File:10000 dram 2018 Reverse.jpg ֏10,000 145 × 72 mm Gray-purple Komitas (1869–1935) Gevorgian Seminary and statue of Komitas, Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin)
File:20000 dram 2018 Obverse.jpg File:20000 dram 2018 Reverse.jpg ֏20,000 150 × 72 mm Green Ivan Aivazovsky (1817–1900) Aivazovsky National Art Gallery Museum and statue of Aivazovskiy, Feodosia (Crimea)
File:50000 dram 2018 Obverse.jpg File:50000 dram 2018 Reverse.jpg ֏50,000 155 × 72 mm Gold Saint Gregory the Illuminator (257–331), manuscripts telling the life of St. Gregory, images of the dome of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin and the winged cross Khor Virap monastery (Chapel of St. Gregory), Ararat Plain, tombstone of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Etchmiadzin), statue of St. Gregory the Illuminator
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Exchange rates

The modern dram came into effect on 22 November 1993, at a rate of Rbls 200 = 1 dram (US$1 = 404 drams).

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See also

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References

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