Armenian money, medals displays win gold prize awards in U.S.

PanARMENIAN.Net - Three displays of Armenian coins, medals, and paper currency were recently honored with gold prize awards in competitions held in Chicago and Milwaukee, U.S.

The exhibits were prepared by recognized numismatic expert Dr. Levon Saryan, a member of the Armenian Numismatic Society and the Society for Armenian Studies, and an overseas member of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.

“Armenia’s Agony: Commemorative Medals of the 1915 Armenian Genocide” received “Best in Show” honors at the April 2011 South Shore numismatic show held in Milwaukee. This display presents the history of the Armenian Genocide through the medium of numismatic monuments. The prize award, a 1/10th ounce pure gold coin, was presented at the annual club banquet on May 21.

Rare Cilician Armenian silver coins were featured in the display entitled “A Medieval Armenian Coin Hoard,” which garnered second-in-class for ancient coins at the highly competitive Central States Numismatic Society convention held in Rosemont, Ill., near Chicago, in late April. Featured in the display was a hoard of over 250 medieval silver coins dating circa 1200 A.D. from the kingdom of Cilician Armenia. The prize, presented on April 30, was a 1/4th ounce pure gold coin.

“Armenia 1919: The Artistic Banknotes” received third-in-class for foreign paper money, also at the Central States show. Presented were the attractive banknotes designed for the Republic of Armenia in 1919 by noted artist Arshag Fetvadjian. The award was a 1/10th ounce pure gold coin, the Armenian Weekly reported.