Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 50 Luma 2004, KM# 7, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Animals, Antelope
  • 50 Luma 2004, KM# 7, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Animals, Antelope
Description

The Republic of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, was a de facto independent republic in the South Caucasus that declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991 amidst the collapse of the Soviet Union. Predominantly inhabited by ethnic Armenians, Artsakh maintained a self-governed status, supported politically and militarily by Armenia, despite lacking international recognition. Its capital was Stepanakert, and its culture and governance were deeply tied to Armenian traditions and history. The region was a focal point of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, culminating in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War and subsequent tensions. In 2023, Azerbaijan regained control over the territory, prompting a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians, effectively ending Artsakh’s existence as an autonomous entity.

Obverse

Coat of arms of the Republic of Artsakh.

The emblem of the Republic of Artsakh consists of an eagle wearing an ornamented crown. On the chest of the eagle is a shield with a panorama of a mountain range and under it a vertically set Flag of Artsakh. Over this are the two stone heads of "Granny and Gramps" (Տատիկ և Պապիկ, Tatik yev Papik) from the We Are Our Mountains monument in Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh. The eagle's feet clutch various agricultural products including wheat and grapes. The outer rim is made up of a golden circular ribbon bearing inscription "Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետություն-Արցախ" ("Artsakh Republic of Mountainous Karabakh") in Eastern Armenian. In the eagle's talons are various agricultural products including wheat and grapes.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH
ԼԵՌՆԱՅԻՆ ՂԱՐԱԲԱՂԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ
ԱՐՑԱԽ
REPUBLIC

Reverse

Antelope leaping to right, value above and date below.

An antelope is a member of a number of even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a wastebasket taxon (miscellaneous group) within the family Bovidae, encompassing those Old World species that are not cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, or goats; even so, antelope are generally more deer-like than other bovids. A group of antelope is called a herd.

The English word "antelope" first appeared in 1417 and is derived from the Old French antelop, itself derived from Medieval Latin ant(h)alopus, which in turn comes from the Byzantine Greek word anthólops, first attested in Eustathius of Antioch (circa 336), according to whom it was a fabulous animal "haunting the banks of the Euphrates, very savage, hard to catch and having long, saw-like horns capable of cutting down trees". It perhaps derives from Greek anthos (flower) and ops (eye), perhaps meaning "beautiful eye" or alluding to the animals' long eyelashes. This, however, may be a later folk etymology. The word talopus and calopus, from Latin, came to be used in heraldry. In 1607, it was first used for living, cervine animals.

50 LUMA
2004

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Aluminium
Weight 0.95 g
Diameter 19.8 mm
Thickness 1.4 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Kremnica Mint (MK)

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