A Dollar A Pound

Most people can picture the dollar ($), pound (£), yen (¥) or the euro symbol (€) - but what about the Indian rupee?

That's harder... because it doesn't have one. You just put an 'Rs' for rupees alongside a currency amount.

India wants to change that, and their government has launched a public contest to design a new symbol, which in turn is designed to establish an idenity for the currency of the world's largest democracy, 2nd most populous nation a burgeoning economic power. The problem: India’s many languages could make choosing a symbol difficult. In graphic terms, typeface designer Erik Spiekermann explained why to presenter Claire Bolderson.

From the BBC World Service March, 10th.