AMD – Armenian Dram

Monetary System

1919: Armenian ruble
22.11.1993: 1 Armenian dram (AMD) = 100 luma

2018 Issues

On 22 November 2017, the central bank unveiled designs for the third family of notes, to be introduced into circulation one year later, on the 25th anniversary of the dram, the national currency. These notes were designed by Edward Kurginyan, Vardan Vardanyan, and Suren Simonyan, and printed by Giesecke & Devrient, Germany on its Hybrid substrate. Each denomination is equipped with the latest security features: a 5mm-wide Galaxy security thread with machine-readable MultiCode design elements, a 3D-effect watermark, a LaserCut window, and a two-color iridescent strip on the reverse. The new notes circulate in parallel with the preceding issues. No new 100,000-dram note is planned.
In March 2020, these notes won the “Best New Banknote Series” award at the High Security Printing EMEA Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

Description: 1,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 130 x 72 mm

Purple. Front: Armenian text; SPARK Live pen nib; poet Paruyr Sevak; manuscript pages; church bells; dancing group. Back: Armenian text; building; mountains; statue of Paruyr Sevak. 5-mm wide Galaxy windowed security thread with demetalized 1000. Watermark: Paruyr Sevak and electrotype 1000. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 130 x 72 mm. Composite (Hybrid).

Description: 2,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 135 x 72 mm

Brown. Front: Armenian text; SPARK Live crown; Tigran Petrosian; chess boards. Back: Armenian text; buildings in cityscape; statue of Tigran Petrosian. 5-mm wide Galaxy windowed security thread with demetalized 2000. Watermark: Tigran Petrosian and electrotype 2000. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 135 x 72 mm. Composite (Hybrid).

Description: 5,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 140 x 72 mm

Red. Front: Armenian text; SPARK Live pomegranate; writer William Saroyan; manuscript pages from Saroyan’s story, “Pomegranates;” pomegranate trees. Back: Armenian text; early 20th century panorama of Saroyan’s anceestors’ hometown Baghesh (Bitlis), now in Turkey; statue of William Saroyan in Yerevan. 5-mm wide Galaxy windowed security thread with demetalized 5000. Watermark: William Saroyan and electrotype 5000. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 140 x 72 mm. Composite (Hybrid).

Description: 10,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 145 x 72 mm

Gray and violet. Front: Armenian text; SPARK Live harp; sheets of music; Soghomon Soghomonian (ordained Komitas); Armenian landscape. Back: Armenian text; Gevorgian Seminary; fresco fragments from seminary’s hall; mountains; statue of Komitas in Etchmiadzin. 5-mm wide Galaxy windowed security thread with demetalized 10000. Watermark: Komitas and electrotype 10000. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 145 x 72 mm. Composite (Hybrid).

Description: 20,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 150 x 72 mm

Green and purple. Front: Armenian text; SPARK Live sailing ship; mountains; Hovhannes Aivazovsky; canvases with Aivazovsky landscapes. Back: Armenian text; Aivazovsky Art Gallery; ships in port at Aivazovsky’s birthplace, Theodosia; statue of Hovhannes Aivazovsky in Yerevan. 5-mm wide Galaxy windowed security thread with demetalized 20000. Watermark: Hovhannes Aivazovsky and electrotype 20000. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 150 x 72 mm. Composite (Hybrid).

Description: 50,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 150 x 72 mm

Gold. Front: Armenian text; SPARK Live hand; illuminated manuscripts; Saint Gregory the Illuminator; Etchmiadzin Cathedral dome; winged cross. Back: Armenian text; Khor Virap monastery; Mountain Ararat; statue of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. 5-mm wide Galaxy windowed security thread with demetalized 50000. Watermark: Saint Gregory the Illuminator and electrotype 20000. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 155 x 72 mm. Composite (Hybrid).

2017 Numismatic Products

This note commemorates Noah’s Ark, the vessel that supposedly saved Noah’s family and all of the world’s animals from a biblical flood before coming to rest atop Mount Ararat in modern day Armenia. 300,000 notes were packaged in brochures and sold for 1,700 dram each. All notes bear the prefix ՆՏ (NT), which stands for Noyi Tapani (Armenian: Noah’s Ark).

Description: 500 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 140 x 76 mm

Yellow, gray, brown, and blue. Front: Armenian text; green-to-gold RollingStar LEAD reliquary with Noah’s Ark fragment; Friedrich Parrot’s woodcut of Etchmiadzin Cathedral building; Noah’s Ark as registration device; back side of Mount Ararat; gold-to-green SPARK Live flying dove with olive branch in beak. Back: Armenian text; Mount Ararat as seen from Chor Virap Monastery; animals and birds flanking Noah’s family, from Jacob Carolsfeld’s woodcut, “Noah Leaving the Ark;” flying eagle. Gold-to-green Galaxy windowed security thread with demetalized AMD / 500. Watermark: Noah’s Ark and electrotype 500. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 140 x 76 mm. Composite (Hybrid).

2011 – 2015 Issues

These notes are like the preceding issues, but with subtle changes to several design elements, revised watermarks, new date, new signatures, and the addition at left front of Kinegram holographic stripes which—when tilted—alternate between an ornament and the person depicted on the note. Furthermore, on the 5,000-dram note the Kinegram at right front has been replaced by an open book.

Description: 1,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 136 x 72 mm

Green and light rose. Front: Armenian text; writer Yeghishe Charents; Mount Ararat. Back: Armenian text; Old Yerevan building; carriage with driver and two horses. Kinegram holographic stripe. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD 1000. Watermark: Yeghishe Charents and electrotype 1000. Printer: (Johan Enschedé en Zonen). 136 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 5,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 143 x 72 mm

Green and brown. Front: Armenian text; writer Hovhannes Tumanyan; architecture; open book. Back: Armenian text; Lory mountains by painter Martiros Saryan. Kinegram holographic stripe. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD 5000. Watermark: Hovhannes Tumanyan and electrotype 5000. Printer: (Johan Enschedé en Zonen). 143 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 10,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 150 x 72 mm

Violet. Front: Armenian text; writer Avetik Isahakyan; Mount Ararat; quill pen and ink bottle. Back: Armenian text; crowd of people; Gyumri skyline at beginning of the 20th century. Kinegram holographic stripe. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD 10000. Watermark: Avetik Isahakyan and electrotype 10000. Printer: (Johan Enschedé en Zonen). 150 x 72 mm. Paper.

2001 – 2009 Issues

These notes are like the preceding issues, but with enhanced security features, mostly notably the addition of Omron rings. The 50- and 100-dram denominations were discontinued, and the 10,000- and 100,000-dram denominations were added.

Description: 1,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 136 x 72 mm

Green and light rose. Front: Armenian text; writer Yeghishe Charents; Mount Ararat. Back: Armenian text; Old Yerevan building; carriage with driver and two horses. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD. Watermark: Yeghishe Charents and electrotype 1000. Printer: Varieties. 136 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 5,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 143 x 72 mm

Green and brown. Front: Armenian text; writer Hovhannes Tumanyan; architecture; Kinegram. Back: Armenian text; Lory mountains by painter Martiros Saryan. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD 5000. Watermark: Hovhannes Tumanyan and electrotype 5000. Printer: Varieties. 143 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 10,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 150 x 72 mm

Violet. Front: Armenian text; writer Avetik Isahakyan; Mount Ararat; quill pen and ink bottle. Back: Armenian text; crowd of people; Gyumri skyline at beginning of the 20th century. Kinegram holographic stripe. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD 10000. Watermark: Avetik Isahakyan and electrotype 10000. Printer: Varieties. 150 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 20,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 155 x 72 mm

Brown, cinnamon, and yellow. Front: Armenian text; painter Martiros Saryan; flowers; artist’s palette. Back: Armenian text; abstract landscape painting Armenia by Martiros Saryan. Kinegram holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized AMD 20000. Watermark: Martiros Saryan and electrotype 20000. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 155 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 100,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 160 x 72 mm

Light blue and brown. Front: Armenian text; royal flag depicting Jesus Christ; King Abgar V of Edessa; 1st-century regional map; crown; ancient coin. Back: Armenian text; castles; disciple Thaddeus handing canvas depicting Jesus Christ to King Abgar V; river. Kinegram holographic stripe. Solid security thread and Cleartext windowed security thread with demetalized AMD 100000. Watermark: King Abgar V; electrotype 100000 and cross of king’s crown. Printer: (De La Rue). 160 x 72 mm. Paper.

2001 Commemorative Issues

This 50,000-dram note commemorates the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia.

Description: 50,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 160 x 79 mm

Brown, cinnamon, and gray. Front: Armenian text; embossed seal; cross; Etchmiadzin Cathedral building. Back: Armenian text; church in the hands of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and King Tiridat the Great; cross carved in stone monolith from Kecharis Monastery in Tsakhkadzor. Kinegram holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized 50000. Watermark: Ornate cross with electrotype crosses. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 160 x 79 mm. Paper.

1998 – 1999 Issues

These notes feature entirely new designs and upgraded security features. The 10-, 25-, and 200-dram denominations were discontinued, and the 20,000-dram denomination was added.

Description: 50 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 122 x 65 mm

Pink. Front: Armenian text; composer Aram Khachatryan; Opera house building. Back: Armenian text; male and female dancers with swords performing scene from Gayanehballet; musical score; Mount Ararat. Solid security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms pattern. Printer: (De La Rue). 122 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 100 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 122 x 65 mm

Blue. Front: Armenian text; astrophysicist Viktor Amazaspovich Ambartsumian; map of solar system with planets. Back: Armenian text; Byurakan observatory building on Mount Arakadz; telescope. Solid security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms pattern. Printer: (De La Rue). 122 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 500 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 129 x 72 mm

Gray. Front: Armenian text; architect Alexander Tamanyan; city plan. Back: Armenian text; Government House building in Yerevan. Solid security thread. Watermark: Alexander Tamanyan and electrotype 500. Printer: (Johan Enschedé en Zonen). 129 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 1,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 136 x 72 mm

Green and light rose. Front: Armenian text; writer Yeghishe Charents; Mount Ararat. Back: Armenian text; Old Yerevan building on Hanrapetutyan Street; carriage with driver and two horses. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD. Watermark: Yeghishe Charents and electrotype 1000. Printer: (De La Rue). 136 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 5,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 143 x 72 mm

Green and brown. Front: Armenian text; writer Hovhannes Tumanyan; architecture; gold foil open book. Back: Armenian text; Lory mountains (birthplace of Tumanyan) by painter Martiros Saryan. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD 5000. Watermark: Hovhannes Tumanyan and electrotype 5000. Printer: (Johan Enschedé en Zonen). 143 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 20,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 150 x 72 mm

Brown, cinnamon, and yellow. Front: Armenian text; painter Martiros Saryan; flowers; holographic oval. Back: Armenian text; abstract landscape painting Armenia by Martiros Saryan. Solid security thread and windowed security thread with demetalized AMD. Watermark: Martiros Saryan and electrotype 20000. Printer: (De La Rue). 150 x 72 mm. Paper.

Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia
ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԿԵՆՏՐՈՆԱԿԱՆ ԲԱՆԿ

The Bank of the Republic of Armenia was renamed the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia (CBA) on 27 April 1993.For more information, visit www.cba.am.

1994 – 1995 Issues

These notes are in the style of the preceding issues, but they have the new issuer’s name in Armenian only at upper front and back.

Description: 1,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 145 x 68 mm

Brown and orange. Front: Armenian text; statue of Mesrop Mashtotz; Matenadaran building. Back: Armenian text; 7th-century Aghitu Memorial in Sisian. Solid security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms pattern. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 145 x 68 mm. Paper.

Description: 5,000 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 145 x 71 mm

Green and violet. Front: Armenian text; pagan temple of Garni. Back: Armenian text; bronze bust of goddess Anahit found near Chor Virap, now in British Museum in London. Solid security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms pattern. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 145 x 71 mm. Paper.

Bank of the Republic of Armenia
ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԲԱՆԿ

After the Soviet Union broke apart, a national referendum proclaimed Armenia an independent republic on 21 September 1991. Subsequently, the State Bank of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia was renamed the Bank of the Republic of Armenia (BRA).

1993 Issues

Prior to introducing the Armenian dram on 22 November 1993, Armenia used banknotes of the 1961 – 1992 issue by the State Bank of the USSR and Russian Federation. The dram was put into circulation at a ratio of 1 Armenian dram to 200 USSR and Russian rubles. Banknotes from 1 to 500 rubles remained in circulation until March 1994.

Description: 10 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 125 x 62 mm

Brown, violet, and yellow. Front: Armenian text; railroad station building in Yerevan; statue of David of Sasoun. Back: Armenian text; Mount Ararat. No security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms pattern. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 125 x 62 mm. Paper.

Description: 25 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 125 x 62 mm

Blue, yellow, orange, and brown. Front: Armenian text; cuneiform tablet; frieze of lion from Erebuni castle. Back: Armenian text; ornamental arch. No security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms pattern. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 125 x 62 mm. Paper.

Description: 50 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 125 x 62 mm

Blue, orange, brown, and yellow. Front: Armenian text; State Museum of History and National Gallery building. Back: Armenian text; National Assembly building. No security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms pattern. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 125 x 62 mm. Paper.

Description: 100 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 135 x 65 mm

Blue, violet, and red. Front: Armenian text; Mount Ararat; Toros Toramanian’s drawing of Church of Zvartnots. Back: Armenian text; opera and ballet theater building in Yerevan. No security thread. Watermark: Varieites. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 135 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 200 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 135 x 65 mm

Brown, green, and red. Front: Armenian text; Church of Saint Hripsime in Echmiadzin. Back: Armenian text; ornamental designs. No security thread. Watermark: Varieites. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 135 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 500 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 135 x 65 mm

Orange brown, green, and blue. Front: Armenian text; Mount Ararat; tetradrachm coin depicting King Tigran the Great. Back: Armenian text; open book with quill pen. No security thread. Watermark: Varieites. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 135 x 65 mm. Paper.

ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ
Republique Armenienne (Republic of Armenia)

After the Soviet Union broke apart, a national referendum proclaimed Armenia an independent republic on 21 September 1991. Subsequently, the State Bank of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia was renamed the Bank of the Republic of Armenia (BRA).

1919 Issues

In June 1920, the Republic of Armenia began issuing a total of 189 million rubles worth of banknotes in three different denominations, all dated 1919. The notes were designed by artists Arshak Fetvajyan and Hakob Kojoyan, and printed in London by Waterlow & Sons Limited.

Description: 50 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 127 x 82 mm

Brown and red. Front: Armenian, French, and Russian text; two dragons. Back: Armenian text; guilloches. No security thread. Watermark: Pattern. Printer: WATERLOW & SONS LIMITED, LONDRES, ANGLETERRE. 127 x 82 mm. Paper.

Description: 100 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 140 x 88 mm

Green and orange. Front: Armenian, French, and Russian text, two stylized birds, Mount Ararat. Back: Armenian text, two birds, eagle holding sword and clutching severed snake in talon. No security thread. Watermark: Pattern. Printer: WATERLOW & SONS LIMITED, LONDRES, ANGLETERRE. 140 x 88 mm. Paper.

Description: 250 AMD – Armenian Dram Size: 160 x 93 mm

Violet and green. Front: Armenian, French, and Russian text; dragons; Victory with torch and sword; birds. Back: Armenian text; woman with spinning wheel, spool of thread; dragons. No security thread. Watermark: Pattern. Printer: WATERLOW & SONS LIMITED, LONDRES, ANGLETERRE. 160 x 93 mm. Paper.