The Mughals played an instrumental role in the development of Indian money, beginning with the expansion of the rupaiya currency.
The traders of the Dutch East India company used to mint their own coins. During British rule, Indian currency reflected the prevailing monarch.
The Southern Vijaynagar empire minted exquisite gold and silver coins. The Portuguese introduced 510 types of currency during their rule.
The region of Kashmir has had a number of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh rulers, a fact reflected in its coinage through the years.
The Indo-Greek rulers introduced coins depicting the emperor's face and gods and goddesses from the ancient Indian and Greek pantheons.
The rulers of the Delhi sultanate minted sophisticated gold, silver and copper coins, and established a formidable currency.
During their brief reign in parts of India, the Danes minted a variety of coins, while the kingdom of Mysore issued a formidable gold currency.
The French minted coins and printed paper currency in their territories, while the kingdom of Mewar was known for its distinctive square coins.
The coinages of the kingdoms of Gwalior and Baroda reflected the cultures of the various empires of which they were a part.
The kingdoms of Awadh and Assam minted coins depicting the symbolism and iconography of the Mughal Empire, of which they were a part.
The kings of Tripura issued coins depicting Hindu gods and symbols, while the coins of Malwa displayed a mysterious cross.
The coins minted by the sultans of Gujarat and Bengal contain intriguing insights into the reigns of the various rulers of those regions.
Since 1950, Indian coins have been minted in a variety of metals, including nickel and copper, and reflected a nation keen to move forward.
