USSR - 1990 - 5 Roubles - Matenadaran, Yerevan (Proof)

ANRO-343

Obverse: Depicts the Matenadaran, the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, located in Yerevan, Armenia. The foreground features the statue of Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet, with his disciple seated before him. A scroll with engraved Armenian letters is prominently displayed in front of the stairs leading to the building. The year "1959," marking the Matenadaran's opening as a research institute, and the text "ЕРЕВАН" (Yerevan) are inscribed at the bottom. The inscription "МАТЕНАДАРАН" (Matenadaran) appears in an arc at the top.

Reverse: Emblem of the Soviet Union, consisting of a hammer and sickle over a globe surrounded by wheat sheaves tied with ribbons, topped by a star. Below the emblem, the denomination "5 РУБЛЕЙ" (5 Roubles) is inscribed, with the year "1990" at the bottom.

Country: USSR
Subject: Matenadaran
Date: 1990
Denomination: 5 roubles
Metal: Cu-Ni
Weight: 19.5g
Diameter: 35mm
Edge: Plain
Mintage: 400,000pcs.
Strike quality: Proof

The coin commemorates the Matenadaran, one of the world's richest repositories of ancient manuscripts and a symbol of Armenian cultural heritage. Established as a research institute in 1959, the Matenadaran preserves thousands of manuscripts dating back to the 5th century, covering various disciplines such as history, philosophy, medicine, and art. The statue of Mesrop Mashtots, created by sculptor Ara Harutyunyan, honors the creator of the Armenian alphabet, an achievement foundational to Armenian identity and literacy. This coin highlights the importance of the Matenadaran as a treasure of knowledge and Armenian history.