1 Dram

Armenia's first decimal coinage appeared in 1994, three years after independence, once the dram had replaced the Soviet ruble following its introduction in November 1993. The aluminum composition was a practical necessity — the newly independent republic had no meaningful hard currency reserves and needed a cheap, fast solution for low-denomination circulation.

The 1-dram piece saw heavy use almost immediately and wore quickly in aluminum, making problem-free survivors more elusive than mintage figures suggest.