The national currency of Armenia is the dram. One drama contains 100 coins (lum). But to date, the latter is not in use. The drama arose from related words: the Greek “drachma” and the Arabic “dirham,” which is translated from both languages as “money”. Issues state monetary units by the Central Bank of Armenia. It was created in 1993.
The symbol of the drama is the letter of the Armenian alphabet “yes”, crossed out horizontally by two lines. Today, the Central Bank of Armenia rates are calculated according to the internal policy of the state.
Drama story
For the first time, drum began to be mentioned in the period from 1199 to 1375. So called coins made of silver. On March 27, 1993, the Central Bank was created in Armenia. But Soviet rubles were still in use, until November 22, 1993. It was this day that became the creation of the state currency of Armenia.
Design
The design of all notes was first dealt with by a German company. And the author of modern banknotes was the British company Thomas de la Rue. On the old notes was written "Bank of the Republic of Armenia". The word “Central” was added to the new banknotes. The currency of Armenia on the old banknotes had a serial number consisting of two letters, on new banknotes - one and 8 digits after it.
Now all modern banknotes have a protective spiral, and with a value of 1000 drams - even two. Earlier, banknotes depicted architectural monuments of Armenia, national ornaments, etc. On modern banknotes are portraits of famous figures of Armenia. Moreover, banknotes do not differ in watermarks. The coat of arms flaunts on bills. The new banknotes were signed by the Chairman of the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia S. Tigran and the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia S. Edward.
The currency of Armenia has a rich colorful palette. The money reflects the country's historical heritage. For example, on a banknote of 1000 drams a portrait of the writer E. Charents is depicted, in the background is Mount Ararat. On the back of the bill is a horse with a cart at an old Yerevan building.
The banknote of 50,000 drams has an image of Etchmiadzin Cathedral on the front side and a commemorative inscription about Christianity on the left. On the reverse side in the center is the image of St. Grigor the Illuminator, behind him in the background is Mount Ararat. The banknote is protected by a watermark in the shape of an Armenian cross.
The main symbol of the Armenian drama
As written above, the currency of Armenia has its own symbol - the letter “yes” crossed out by a double line. The name of state money begins with it. The official authors of the monetary symbol are K. Komendaryan and R. Haruchchyan. They presented the same sketches. And in 2003, the yes sign was placed first on the reverse of the 10,000th note, and then on the remaining banknotes. In 2008, the “yes” symbol appeared on a collectible coin with a face value of 5000 drams. In 2012, the symbol was included in the world standard Unicode.
Denominations
In Armenia, banknotes with 7 denominations are in circulation: the minimum (in drams) is 500, and the maximum is 100,000. There are only six types of coins, starting (in drams) from 10 and ending with 500. Until 1998, banknotes of 50, 100 and 500 drams. Then coins with the same denomination came into use. In 2001, an anniversary note was issued in honor of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity, which became the state religion of Armenia.
What is the current currency in Armenia? After the new banknotes printed in the period from 1993 to 1995 came into use in 2005. were withdrawn from circulation. In 2009, a banknote of 100,000 drams appeared. This banknote depicted King Abgar V.
