The current currency of India “Rupee” derives its origin from the word Rup or Rupa, which means Silver in Hindi. Rupaya was used to indicate the coins issued during Sher Shah Reign around 15th century.
By the time the British East India Company entered the market in the 1600s, Sher Shah’s silver rupee had already become the standard currency at least in name.
Despite many attempts to bring the Sterling Pound to India, the Rupee grew in popularity and was even exported as a currency to other British colonies.
And when the British government took over the Company territories after the 1857 revolt, the Rupee became the official currency of colonial India, with the head of King George VI featuring prominently on banknotes and coins.
In 1947, India became an independent nation. The currency kept its name but changed visually to account for the birth of this new nation.
The head of the king was replaced with India’s national symbol- the Ashoka lion pillar from Sarnath.
The currency sign of Rupee Symbol was adopted by the Government of India in 2010 as a symbol for Indian Rupee.
