<P> The history of the Rupee traces back to the Ancient India in circa 6th century BC . Ancient India was the earliest issuers of coins in the world, along with the Chinese wen and Lydian staters . </P> <P> The word "rūpiye" is derived from a Sanskrit word "rūpaa", which means "wrought silver, a coin of silver", in origin an adjective meaning "shapely", with a more specific meaning of "stamped, impressed", whence "coin". It is derived from the noun rūpa "shape, likeness, image". The word rūpa is being further identified as having sprung from the Dravidian . </P>

Who issued the coin rupee for the first time