Coal　is　a　readily　available　and　inexpensive　material.　However,　its　direct　use　as　a　catalyst　is　still　rare,　but　attractive　for　practical　application.　In　this　paper,　coal　was　directly　used　as　a　catalyst　for　the　selective　oxidative　dehydrogenation　of　propane　to　propene.　It　exhibited　a　high　selectivity　over　90%　with　a　yield　of　8.4%　at　a　high　space　velocity　(12,000　mL　center　dot(h　center　dot　g-cat)(-1)).　The　productivity　up　to　2.84　gC(3)H(6)　g(cat)(-1)　h(-1)　was　obtained　with　propene　selectivity　above　80%　(20,000　mL　center　dot(h　center　dot　g-cat)(-1)).　The　kinetic　showed　first-order　dependence　with　respect　to　propane　or　oxygen　partial　pressures.　Meanwhile,　electron　paramagnetic　resonance　(EPR)　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectrum　(XPS)　demonstrated　that　the　carbonyl　groups　act　as　active　sites　for　oxidative　dehydrogenation　of　propane　to　propene.　This　work　expands　the　use　of　earth-abundant　and　low-price　coal　in　catalysis　with　expectable　scale　application.