Question

The new coin 'Rupiya' was issued for the first time by

• A. Sher Shah Suri
• B. Akbar
• C. Ala ud din Khilji
• D. Mohammed Shah Tughlaq

Hint:

Think of the 16th century ruler known for his tri metallic currency and administrative reforms.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This is a factual history question about the origin of the rupiya, the ancestor of today's rupee, and which ruler is credited with introducing it.

1. Sher Shah Suri: Correct. During his currency reforms in the 16th century, Sher Shah Suri introduced the standardized silver rupiya as part of a gold, silver and copper coin system.
2. Akbar: Akbar refined and expanded Mughal coinage after inheriting a currency system that already included the rupiya, so he was not the originator.
3. Ala ud din Khilji: He is remembered for strict market and price control measures in the Delhi Sultanate, not for the rupiya.
4. Mohammed Shah Tughlaq: Muhammad bin Tughlaq's claim to fame in currency is the failed token currency experiment with copper coins, a separate and unrelated episode.

Since the standardized silver rupiya first appears under Sher Shah Suri's administrative reforms, option (A) is the answer.

Let's summarize:

• Sher Shah Suri created the tri metallic currency system with the silver rupiya at its center.
• Akbar continued this system rather than starting it, and the other two rulers are linked to different currency episodes.

So Sher Shah Suri is the correct answer for the first rupiya.