Dubai Numisbing, a Dubai-based professional numismatic company, will be hosting a rare and historical collection of the UAE’s coins, banknotes and medals on the occasion of its 45th National Day celebrations.
The exhibition marks milestones during the UAE’s almost half a century’s road to success, with part of the collection dating back to the era of Trucial States, before the Union was formed. The exhibition is open to all at the Numisbing showroom on Al Maktoum Street in Deira.
Minted in silver, gold and other metals, each coin and medal represents a story, carrying in it a small piece of the UAE’s history, and together they tell a tale of a successful country.
Medal with a portrait of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan issued on the UAE’s 25th National Day.
The commemorative medals in particular provide an insight into the various landmarks that the country achieved.
The rare collection on display belongs to Steve Desouza, a numismatist specialised in the Trucial and UAE coins, who is a resident of Dubai for the past 40 years.
“As Father of the UAE the late His Highness Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayhan once said, ‘A nation without a past is a nation without a present or a future’,” said Desouza.
Medals commemorating the sacrifices of the armed forces are also on display.
“These coins, notes and medals tell the tale of the UAE’s strong history, inspiring its residents to further propel the country. My father was a collector as well, and it was his interest that fuelled me to take up this hobby on a serious and passionate level. I feel that creating and adding to this collection is my way of thanking the UAE and why I’m happy and proud to live in such a vibrant country.”
Some of the collective items to look out for at the exhibition include the first bank notes issued in 1973 by the then UAE Currency Board, in denominations of Dh1, Dh5, Dh10, Dh50, Dh100, and a Dh1,000 note that was introduced in 1976.
Also present is the first gold coin in commemoration of UAE’s 5th National Day; the medal in celebration of the 15th National Day, and an “elusive medal” with a portrait of the late Shaikh Zayed that was issued on the UAE’s 25th National Day.
