Rupee
The
rupee is the common name for the currencies of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, Indonesia, and formerly those of Burma and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupiya" was introduced in the 16th century by Sher Shah Suri, founder of the Sur Empire of Northern India. The term is from
rūpya, a Sanskrit term for silver coin, from Sanskrit rūpá, beautiful form. In the Maldives, the unit of currency is known as the rufiyah, which is a cognate of the Hindi
rupiya. Both the Indian rupees and the Pakistani rupee are subdivided into one hundred paise or pice. The Mauritian and Sri Lankan rupees subdivide into 100 cents. The Nepalese rupee subdivides into one hundred paisas or four sukas or two mohors. Afghanistan's currency was also denominated in Afghan rupees until 1925, with each Afghan rupee subdividing into 60 paisas. Prior to the introduction of the Afghan rupee in 1891, the legal currency was the Kabuli rupee. Until the middle of the 20th century, Tibet's official currency was also known as the Tibetan rupee.