Noah's Ark silver coins

Noah's Ark
Armenia
Value Dram(face value)
Edge Serrated
Composition 99.9% Ag
Years of minting 2011-present
Obverse
Design coat of arms of Armenia
Reverse
Design Noah's Ark, Mount Ararat, Dove (Designer: Eduard Kurghinyan)

The Noah's Ark silver coins are Armenian bullion coins, issued since 2011. They are available in various sizes with a fine weight between ¼ ounce and 5 kg in silver of 999/1000 fineness. Although the coin with a nominal value of 500 Dram (1 ounce) is a legal tender in Armenia, it is not minted in this Eastern country. The coin is produced by the Leipziger Edelmetallverarbeitungs GmbH an affiliate company of Geiger Edelmetalle. Similar to the famous bullion coins like the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, the Vienna Philharmonic or the American Silver Eagle, the motif of the coin remains constant.[1]

Background

Artwork of the biblical narration of Noah’s Ark: Noah's Ark (1846), a painting by the American folk painter Edward Hicks.

As motif for the bullion coin the famous biblical narration of Noah’s Ark was selected. The Genesis flood narrative tells how God punishes mankind with a big flood because of their committed sins. The only exception is the pious Noah with his family, God tells him previously of the flood and gives Noah detailed instructions for building a vessel. With the help of the ark, Noah, his family, and a remnant of all the world's animals are spared by the flood and after stranding on Mount Ararat, they can rebuild mankind and the animal world.[2]

The reason, for choosing this motif for the silver coin, is the connection to the Armenian history. Until the twenties of the 20th century a large area of the Mount Ararat was on Armenian territory, because the border between this small Caucasian State and Turkey run right over the top of the mount. After the First World War, when the country was divided between the Soviet Union and Turkey, the whole mountain passes to Turkey. Even though the Mount Ararat isn’t on the map of Armenia anymore, it is still an important part of the national identity. So the symbolic figure of Mount Ararat is still in the Coat of arms of Armenia.[2]

Obverse

This national coat of arms decorates the front side of the Noah’s Ark coin. Beside the national emblem there is imprinted the inscription “Republic of Armenia” in English and Armenian, as well as the nominal value in Dram, the Armenian currency. On this side of the silver bullion coin are also the essential information for investors like the fineness, the fine weight as well as the year of minting.[1]

The reverse side of the Noah's Ark with the ark, the Mount Ararat and the dove with the olive branch

Reverse

At the backside of the coin is a very subtly designed image of the eponymous Ark. In the background of the design you can see the Mount Ararat, where the journey of Noah and his ark ended. In the foreground there is a dove carrying an olive branch, which, according to the text of the Bible, portends the end of the flood. Beside this image there is imprinted the English name of the coin “Noah’s Ark” and its Armenian translation.[2]

Material

The Noah’s Ark silver bullion coins are minted with a fineness of 999/1000. The diameter is 38,6 mm (1 ounce) and its edge is reeded. Since the first year of issue 2011 there are the Noah’s Ark coins with the denominations of ¼, ½ and 1 ounce.[3] Since 2012 the 5 ounces, the 10 ounces, the one kilogram and the five kilogram coins are additionally minted. Since its inauguration more than 2 millions of Noah's Ark silver coins have been produced and distributed all over the world.

Mintage

Year 1/4 oz 1/2 oz 1 oz 5 oz 10 oz Kilo 5 Kilo
2011 17,068 15,533 268,325
2012 173,696 102,028 457,576 3,550 2,003 2,449 163
2013 124,713 90,024 581,800 2,436 1,992 2,826 171
2014 113,723 87,563 566,323 4,535 3,645 2,590 476
2015 183,622139,722960,1823,3484,0652,485473
2016

References

  1. 1 2 "Arche Noah 1 oz. Silbermünze aus Armenien". gold.de. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
  2. 1 2 3 "Der Ararat - Vulkan und höchster Gipfel der Türkei". arche-noah-heute.de. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
  3. ↑ "Arche-Noah-Anlage". arche-noah.am. Retrieved 2014-08-28.

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website of the producer

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