8th century, King Offa of Mercia... and Islam...?

Question: 8th century, King Offa of Mercia!.!.!. and Islam!.!.!.!?

I read that in the 8th century, King Offa (the chap who built the big dyke seperating Wales and England!.!.!. had coins minted with Islamic words written on them!.!.!. "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his Messenger"!.

Does anybody know anything more about this!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

It seems the most likely explanation is that Offa wanted to strike a standard gold coin, of the right size and weight, and the model he had to work from was an Arabic gold coin!. So he ordered partial copies of these (exactly the same on one side) to be struck in ignorance of the meaning of the inscription!. He then sent several hundred to the Pope!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

As others have said, these were Arabic coins that were in the possession of Offa!.

He adapted these, essentially RE Minting them!. He ws ignorant of the Arabic meaning on the coins!.

Essentially, there is NO evidence he knew anything about Islam, let alone being one!.

If he had been, he would have been deposed VERY quickly!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Only three gold coins of Offa's have survived: one is a copy of an Abbasid dinar of 774, and carries Arabic text on one side of the coin, with "Offa Rex" on the other side!. The gold coins are of uncertain use but may have been struck to be used as alms or for gifts to Rome!.Www@QuestionHome@Com