Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery is an Armenian monastery founded in the 10th century in the Lori Province of Armenia.

The name Sanahin literally translates from Armenian as "this one is older than that one", presumably representing a claim to having an older monastery than the neighbouring Haghpat Monastery. The two villages and their monasteries are similar in many ways, and lie in plain view of each other on a dissected plateau formation, separated by a deep "crack" formed by a small river flowing into the Debed river.

As with Haghpat, Sanahin is frequented by an increasing number of tourists, due to its recent inclusion on the itineraries of numerous Armenian tour agencies, the beauty of its monastery complex matching that of Haghpat's. The complex belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church with numerous khachkars (stones with elaborate engravings representing a cross) and bishop gravesites scattered throughout it.

Sanahin Monastery
Obverse: 
Coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia and nominal value; along the rim - inscriptions “REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA” in Armenian and English.
Reverse: 
Monastic complex Sanahin, along the rim - vertical inscriptions “Sanahin Monastery” in Armenian and English, year of issue and ornamental patterns.
Country: 
Catalog ID: 
AM233CM1
Value: 
€90
Mintage: 
2500
Quality: 
Face value: 
Material: 
Purity: 
0.925
Weight: 
25g
Year: 
Shape and style: 
Shape and style: 
Edge: 
International program: 
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Source of information: