Real coins·30 March 2026·4 min read
The rupee — silver of the subcontinent
One of the oldest currencies still in use, the rupee circulated from India to East Africa.
The rupee originates from the silver coin introduced in 16th-century India. The name comes from Sanskrit, from a word meaning "wrought silver".
A currency of many nations
Today, versions of the rupee are used by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Mauritius and others — hundreds of millions of people. Few currencies are so widespread.
