1. The lions that we see on our currency notes and coins have a long history. They were carved in stone and placed on the top of a massive stone pillar at Samath (near Varanasi). Inscriptions were carved on the pillar and others like it, as well as on rock surface, on the instructions of Ashoka, one of the greatest rulers known to history.
2. Lion capital from the Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath has four lions though only three can be seen, as the fourth one is covered with one of the lions. After India became free, this Ashokan capital became India’s National Emblem.
3. We can see the lions on stamp papers also.