by Atta G. Attaelmanan, Eisa Yousif
ABSTRACT
Nineteen ancient coins discovered in Dibba were subjected to physical and analytical investigations to collect numismatic data. The port of Dibba, located on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, has been an active trade center for centuries, as evidenced by archaeological excavations conducted across various parts of the city. The coin assemblage comprises fourteen locally minted coins and five foreign coins.
All coins were photographed, weighed, measured, and analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The XRF results reveal that the coins are primarily composed of copper–silver alloys, with two coins identified as pure copper. The locally minted coins are debased imitations of the coinage of Alexander the Great, featuring the head of Hercules on the obverse and a seated Zeus on the reverse.
Among the foreign coins, three were issued by King Attambelos IV, a ruler of the Characene Kingdom, while one coin belongs to King Abhiraka, a relatively obscure Indo-Scythian ruler. Based on the established chronological attribution of the individual coins, the entire assemblage can be dated to the first century AD (35–70 AD), which aligns well with occupation dates inferred from other archaeological artifacts recovered at the site.
The locally minted coins highlight Dibba’s connections with regional centers such as Mleiha and Ed-Dur. In addition, the presence of foreign coins from the Characene Kingdom and the Western Kshatrapa dynasty underscores the significance of Dibba Al-Hisn as an international trade port during the first century AD.
