Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c40.s3.5

v2.c40.s3.5

Pāṇini also explained the genesis of the word for silver : rūpyaḥ or raupya. Next to gold, silver was used as the coinage metal. Some form (rūpa) of the king or ruler was embossed (āhatam) : rūpāt, āhata, praśamsayoḥ yap (Pāṇ., 5.2.120). Thus raupya was derived from rūpa and became the new name of rajata or silver during the Achaemenid rule (sixth century BC). There was a special name for a stamped or embossed silver coin vārk rūpya or silver stamped with vṛka die (Pāṇ., 4.2.106).