ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATION OF ANCIENT COINS DISCOVERED IN DIBBA

ABSTRACT

Nineteen ancient coins discovered in Dibba were subjected to physical and analytical investigations to collect numismatic data. The port of Dibba, which lies in the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, has been an active trade post for centuries according to the archaeological evidence excavated from different parts of the city. The coins collection includes 14 locally minted coins and 5 foreign coins. They were photographed, weighed, measured and analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. XRF data revealed that the elemental composition of the coins is mostly Copper-Silver alloys, with two pure copper coins. All the local coins are debased imitations of the coinage of Alexander the Great. They show the head of Hercules on the obverse and a seated ‘Zeus’ on the reverse. Three of foreign coins are issued by King Attambelos IV who was a ruler of the Characene Kingdom, while one coin was of King Abhiraka, a relatively obscure Indo-Scythian king. Based on the known dates for the individual coins, it is evident that the whole coin collection belongs to the 1st century AD (35 AD – 70 AD) which fits well with occupation dates provided by other artifacts discovered at the site. The local coins collection highlights Dibba’s relationship with local communities in Mleiha and Ed-dur, while the presence of foreign coins from the Characene Kingdom and the Western Kshatrapa dynasty indicates the importance of Dibba Alhisn as an international trade port during the first century AD.