RA Gold - 2017 - 10,000 dram - Hovhannes Aivazovsky: 200th Birth Anniversary

RA Gold Commemorative - 93

Obverse: A portrait of Hovhannes Aivazovsky, the renowned Armenian marine painter, with the Armenian inscription "ՀՈՎՀԱՆՆԵՍ ԱՅՎԱԶՈՎՍԿԻ" ("Hovhannes Aivazovsky") surrounding the top, and the years of his life "1817-1900" displayed below.

Reverse: A detailed depiction of a fragment from Hovhannes Aivazovsky’s famous painting The Ninth Wave, illustrating a group of shipwreck survivors battling a massive wave in a small boat. The Armenian inscription around the edge reads: "Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Կենտրոնական Բանկ" ("Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia"). The denomination "10,000" and "ԴՐԱՄ" ("dram") are inscribed at the bottom along with the year "2017".

Denomination: 10,000 dram
Metal: Gold 900
Weight: 8.60g
Diameter: 22mm
Mintage: 500 pcs
Edge: Reeded
Strike Quality: Proof
Designer: Haroutiun Samuelian
Mint: Lithuanian Mint

This commemorative coin honors the 200th birth anniversary of Hovhannes Aivazovsky (1817-1900), one of the world’s most celebrated marine artists and a prominent figure in Armenian and Russian art history. Born in Theodosia, Crimea, Aivazovsky studied at the Simferopol Russian Gymnasium and later at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. He became famous for his stunning seascapes, which captured the beauty and power of the ocean, earning him widespread acclaim in Europe and beyond.

Aivazovsky was not only an accomplished artist but also a philanthropist. He opened a School of Fine Arts in Theodosia, contributed to the construction of cultural institutions in his hometown, and provided aid to Armenian refugees fleeing the massacres in Western Armenia during the 1890s. He also supported the national liberation struggles of Greeks and Italians.

Throughout his prolific career, Aivazovsky created around 6,000 paintings, many of which are housed in prominent museums worldwide, including the National Gallery of Armenia and the Hovhannes Aivazovsky Gallery in Theodosia. His works, infused with deep patriotism and humanism, continue to inspire admiration across generations.