Forehead coin band: part of Armenian women’s costume

A band with coins worn on the forehead is an important part of the Armenian women’s national costume. Under the cap, on the forehead, Armenian women fastened a strip of cloth or ribbon with gold or silver coins. It was tied on the forehead because the forehead was associated with consciousness and reason. Armenians believed that the coins would protect the wearer from evil forces and bring prosperity and fertility, and that their jingling, like the sound of thunder, would drive away evil spirits.

Only married women wore such ornaments, and they showed the wealth and status of the husband. The wife of a rich merchant could be recognised by 2 coin bands on her forehead. Wealthy women wore rows of gold coins, while women of average means made do with silver coins but tried to fasten at least 1 gold coin in the middle.

In the photograph a woman in national costume wears a headdress with rows of coins across her forehead, chains hanging at the sides and coin ornaments on her chest.