Nepalese coins are currently found in a variety of denominations:
Besides these currently available coins a variety of coins from different times of Nepalese History are found which are mostly seen as collectibles.
Due to its location between Tibet and India, Nepal once stood on vital trade routes through the mountains connecting these regions. The coinage of India inspired the coins of Nepal, and for hundreds of years Nepal has issued its own unique coins. One of the most important early periods for Nepalese coins was the era of Malla kings starting in the 13th century. Nepal created a decimal system of coinage in 1903, in which 100 paisa equaled one rupee. However, the first coins in the rupee denomination were not issued until 1932. The modern coins of Nepal are dated according to the Vikram Samvat era, which started in 57 B.C. The front of many Nepalese coins shows the royal crown with its sweeping headdress. Worn by the reigning monarch (King Gyanendra since 2001) on official occasions, it is a symbol of his power. The king is believed to personify Vishnu, the Hindu preserver of life and protector of the universe.