Wednesday, November 22 2017 19:10

ArmInfo. To the 24th anniversary of the national currency of Armenia - dram, the Central Bank of Armenia presented composite (hybrid) banknotes of "Noah's Ark" with a face value of 500 AMD and drafts of third-generation money that will come into circulation on November 22, 2018.

"We issue 500-dram denominations in a limited circulation - 300 thousand pieces, which, if desired, will be provided to commercial banks of Armenia," Secretary General of the Central Bank of Armenia David Nagapetyan said on November 22 during the presentation of the banknote. The cost of one banknote, according to him, will be 1,700 drams. These collectible 500-dram banknotes can be purchased at the Central Bank Numismat center since November 27 2017. "We set the price above the face value to maintain the collection status of the banknote," he stressed.

According to Nune Teryan, head of the Central Bank of Armenia Central Bank's issue of currency, the banknote is printed on high-quality raw materials HybridT, and consists of three layers - cotton on both sides coated with polyester. The size of the 500-dram banknote is 140mm X 76mm. At the same time, she noted that the banknote is equipped with advanced degrees of protection, which will be used for money of the third generation.

During the presentation of the third generation money sketches, D. Nahapetyan said that the Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak will be depicted on a 1,000-dram banknote, 2000-AMD - the ninth World Chess Champion Tigran Petrosyan, 5000 AMD - American writer of Armenian origin William Saroyan, 10,000 drama - the great composer Komitas, 20,000 drams - the famous marinist Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky, 50000 drams - the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator. The 100,000-dram bill was not included in the list of the third generation and will be out of circulation (as wear and tear) due to lack of demand, noted D. Nagapetyan. At the same time, he stressed that as a result of the announced contest, the Central Bank Board and the Art Council approved draft sketches of designers Edward Kurginyan, Vardan Vardanyan and Suren Simonyan for the development of money of a new format for Armenia. However, he noted that the presented sketches will be finalized.  D. Nahapetyan noted that given the demand for a denomination of AMD 2,000, it is likely that the banknote will be issued in circulation earlier than the stipulated date. Operating paper analogues of banknotes of the third generation will gradually come out of circulation as they wear out. "We declare to the public: today's paper drams will be on the market for a long time," he concluded.