In Kautilya's Arthashastra, silver coins are referred to as:

In the Arthashastra, silver coins are called "Rupyarupa".

Coins mentioned in the Arthashastra:

• "Rupyarupa": silver coins.
• "Suvarnarupa": gold coins.
• "Tamrarupa": copper coins.
• "Sisarupa": lead coins.
• The word "rupa" means form or image, referring to the marks or images stamped on the coins.
• "Rupya" means silver; the modern word "rupee" (rupiya) comes from it.
• The main silver coin was the "pana" (karshapana).
• The Arthashastra mentions coins of different denominations: the pana, half-pana, quarter-pana and one-eighth pana.
• It also mentions copper coins called "mashaka" and "kakani".

The mint and its officers:

• The Arthashastra describes an officer called the "Lakshanadhyaksha" (superintendent of the mint), who was in charge of making coins.
• The "Rupadarshaka" (examiner of coins) checked the coins in circulation.
• Salaries of officials were paid in panas.

Coins of the Mauryan period:

• Punch-marked coins were the main currency in the Mauryan period.
• Many Mauryan punch-marked coins have a set of symbols, such as the sun, a six-armed symbol, an arched hill (with or without a crescent) and others.

Origin of the word "rupee":

• In the 16th century, Sher Shah Suri issued a silver coin weighing about 178 grains, which he called the "rupiya".
• This coin was continued by the Mughals and the British, and the word "rupee" is now used for the currency of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Suvarnarupa referred to gold coins.
• ✗Tamrarupa referred to copper coins.
• ✗Dinara was the name of gold coins used later.