YEREVAN, March 22. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Central Bank said today it has issued 1000 pieces of gold commemorative coins dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the famous businessman and philanthropist Calouste Gulbenkian. The face value of the coin is 10,000.

The obverse of the coin depicts a monument symbolizing the collective image of the Armenian patron of the arts, and the inscription "GRATITUDE" in Armenian, English and Russian languages. The reverse depicts a portrait of Calouste Gulbenkian and his signature.

The coin was designed by Harutyun Samuelyan and Vardan Vardanyan. They were minted at the Mint of Lithuania.

Calouste Gulbenkian (1869-1955) - a financier, industrialist and philanthropist, a large oil tycoon of the first half of the 20th century. In 1922, Gulbenkian, in memory of his parents, erected the Armenian church of St. Minas in London. In addition, he allocated 400 thousand US dollars for the restoration of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia, and contributed to the construction of the Nubarashen and New Caesarea neighborhoods on the outskirts of Yerevan.

In 1929, Gulbenkian built the famous Library of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem and set a permanent rent for the Patriarchate. From 1930 to 1932, he served as Chairman of the Armenian General Benevolent Union. With his help and on his donations, Armenian schools and hospitals were built in the Armenian-populated areas of Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan. Armenian churches were built in the Middle East, Iraq and Lebanon, where powerful Armenian communities were formed. The churches he built are located in Tripoli, Baghdad and Kirkuk. -0-