Lac of Rupees
Preserved but no longer current.
One hundred thousand rupees. The nominal value of the Indian rupee is 2s., and at this rate of exchange a lac of rupees is equivalent to £10,000. Its value varies, how- ever, according to the market value of silver.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Lac of Rupees” mean?
One hundred thousand rupees. The nominal value of the Indian rupee is 2s., and at this rate of exchange a lac of rupees is equivalent to £10,000. Its value varies, how- ever, according to the market value of silver.
Is “Lac of Rupees” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.