The origins of Indian currency, Rupee, go back to almost as early as the Indian civilisation itself as traces of some forms of the rupee have been discovered in ancient India in 6th century BC as ancient India was one of the earliest issuers of coins in the world.
Arthashastra, written by Chanakya, prime minister to the first Maurya emperor Chandragupta Maurya (c. 340–290 BC), mentions coins as Rupa. Rūpa means a ‘form’ or ‘shape’. Some also say rupee comes from Sanskrit term for silver as the earliest high value coins were issued in silver.
In 16th century the founder of Suri Empire in India. Sher Shah Suri introduced silver coins weighing nearly 11 grams and called them ‘rupaiya’. Later it was adopted by Mughals and British. The rupee or its variations are also legal tenders in several Asian and African nations like Nepalese Rupee, Pakistani Rupee, Indonesian Rupiah or Maldivian Rufiyaa.