Rupee facts for kids

Purple areas show countries that use the rupee as their official money. Orange areas show countries where another country's rupee is also accepted.

The rupee is the name of a type of currency (money) used in many countries.

It is used today in countries like India and Pakistan. In the past, the rupee was also used in places like British India, Bangladesh (before 1971), Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. It was also the money used in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and in German and British colonies in East Africa.

The name "rupee" comes from a very old Sanskrit word. This word means "silver." This is because the first rupees were often made of silver. The rupiah in Indonesia and the rufiyah in the Maldives are also types of money whose names came from this same old word. Long ago, these currencies were related to Spanish dollars.

Images for kids

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  An early Rūpyarūpa coin from the Maurya Empire, made around 3rd century BC. It shows symbols like a wheel and an elephant.

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  A Rupiya coin issued by Sher Shah Suri between 1540 and 1545 CE.

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  A silver Rupee coin made by the French East India Company. It was for trade in Northern India and was made in Pondicherry.

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  A 5 Rupee note from the Government of India issued in 1858.

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  A 1 Rupee banknote issued by the British Raj in 1917.