The Abiel Coin, among the UAE’s oldest, showcases Arabian-Hellenistic ties and will be displayed at Zayed National Museum opening December 3.
ABU DHABI: One of the oldest coins discovered in the UAE, the Abiel Coin, is set to be a centrepiece at the upcoming Zayed National Museum, which officially opens its doors to the public on December 3. Dated between 300 BCE and 100 CE, the coin is a remarkable artefact of cross-cultural exchange that linked the ancient Arabian Peninsula with the broader Hellenistic world.
Believed to have been minted in Mleiha, Sharjah, the silver-alloy coin reflects an era of flourishing trade and cultural interactions. Its design—bearing influences from both Arabian and Hellenistic iconography—offers insights into the cosmopolitanism of the Gulf region long before the advent of Islam.
The Abiel Coin will feature in the museum’s “Through Our Connections” gallery, a historical journey through the region’s evolution from the Iron Age through to early Islamic civilisation. This gallery is one of the museum’s signature narratives, highlighting the UAE’s ancient roots as a trading and cultural crossroads.
More than just a numismatic piece, the Abiel Coin represents a tangible link to the UAE’s early internationalism and its place in a globally connected world. Its preservation and exhibition underscore the country’s commitment to archaeological conservation and cultural storytelling.
The Zayed National Museum, housed on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, aims to be the nation’s flagship cultural institution, chronicling the UAE’s history and honouring the legacy of its Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Its December opening is expected to attract global attention.
