The sterling area was a group of countries that either pegged their currencies to sterling, or actually used sterling as their own currency.
The Indian Rupee was one of the currencies of the sterling area.
Sterling is the currency of the United Kingdom and nine of its associated territories. The pound is the main unit of sterling, and the word pound is also used to refer to the British currency generally, often qualified in international contexts as the British pound or the pound sterling.
The Hatter's hat shows an example of the old pre-decimal notation: the hat costs 10/6 (ten shillings and sixpence, a half guinea).
A pound = 20 shillings = 240 silver pennies (formerly)
King Offa penny (eighth century)
Penny of Henry III, 13th century