Differential cross sections and decay asymmetries for coherent φ{symbol}-meson photoproduction from deuterons were measured for the first time at forward angles using linearly polarized photons at Eγ = 1.5 - 2.4   GeV. This reaction offers a unique way to directly access natural-parity pomeron dynamics and gluon exchange at low energies. The cross sections at zero degrees increase with increasing photon energy. The decay asymmetries demonstrate a complete dominance of natural-parity exchange processes, showing that isovector unnatural-parity π-meson exchange is small. Nevertheless the deduced cross sections of φ{symbol}-mesons from nucleons contributed by isoscalar t-channel exchange processes are not well described by the conventional pomeron model. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.