Coin of Offa
- Audio guide stop: 523
- Gallery: Room 68
- Culture: Mercia
- Made in: Mercia (historic - kingdom); Kingdom of Mercia
- Object type: coin
- Materials: gold
- Museum number: 1913,1213.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is the "Offa Dinar," a gold coin created in the historic kingdom of Mercia. This small but remarkable piece of history shines in gold, capturing the artistry and craftsmanship of its time. It measures a little over 20 millimetres in diameter and weighs about 4.3 grammes.
This coin was not just a currency—it was a symbol of power and identity during the reign of King Offa, one of Mercia’s most influential rulers. The design reflects the kingdom's efforts to establish a unified and stable economic system. Gold was a rare and valuable material, so the use of it highlights both the wealth and sophistication of Mercian society.
The coin offers a tangible connection to a time when England was divided into smaller kingdoms, each striving for dominance through both military strength and economic influence.
See it in person
Coin of Offa is on display in Room 68 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 523, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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