The Armenian Numismatics and Antiquities Society (ANAS) was launched in Chicago this August.

Renowned numismatic experts Dr. Levon Saryan and Frank Kovacs delivered speeches at the first gathering of the society, Coinsweekly reports.

ANAS aims to unite Armenians worldwide in their quest for knowledge about Armenian coins and to provide a forum for them to share their collections, sell items and exchange ideas.

The website, which is currently under construction, will also include pages on Armenian books, carpets, coins, embroidery, manuscripts, medals, etc. Besides, the organization plans to publish a quarterly journal on coins and antique items.  

According to the Society President Chuck Hajinian, many of the organization’s participants are from Western Armenia and all of their belongings, including coins, ceramics, manuscripts and jewelry were lost and stolen during the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

“This is our way of recapturing and honoring the lives they lived and preserving these items for future generations. We want to shine the brightest spotlight we can for all Armenians to see their history and to appreciate the artistic work that their ancestors created,” Hajinian said.