The dinar () is the principal currency unit in several countries near the Mediterranean Sea, and its historical use is even more widespread. The English word "dinar" is the transliteration of the Arabic دينار (dīnār), which was borrowed via the Syriac dīnarā, itself from the Latin dēnārius. The modern gold dinar is a projected bullion gold coin, and is not issued as an official currency by any state. History The modern dinar's historical antecedents are the gold dinar and the silver dirham, the main coin of the medieval Islamic empires, first issued in AH 77 (696–697 CE) by Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. The word "dinar" derives from the Latin "dēnārius," a silver coin of ancient Rome, which was first minted about c. 211 BCE. The Kushan Empire introduced a gold coin known as the dīnāra into India in the 1st century AD; the Gupta Empire and its successors up to the 6th century adopted the coin. The 8th century English king Offa of Mercia minted copies of Abbasid dinars struck in 774 by Caliph Al-Mansur with "Offa Rex" centred on the reverse. The moneyer likely had no understanding of Arabic as the Arabic text contains many errors. Such coins may have been produced for trade with Islamic Spain. These coins are called a Mancus, which is also derived from the Arabic language. Legal tender Countries with current usage Countries currently using a currency called "dinar" or similar: Countries with former usage Countries and regions which have previously used a currency called "dinar" in the 20th century: See also Economy of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Kelantanese dinar Islamic State dinar List of circulating currencies Middle East economic integration References External links Malaysia: Kelantan collects Zakat in Shariah money Denominations (currency) Islamic banking Islamic banking and finance terminology Modern obsolete currencies