1968 Australian 10c Coin

Description

The 10 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966. Given that the earlier Australian Pound was equal to 240 pence, and the new Australian Dollar was introduced at two dollars to the pound, the ten cents denomination was exactly equal to the earlier Australian Shilling – both in value and in size (the coins were made of the same dimensions and mass). It is thus a direct descendant of the British Shilling.

The original reverse design by Stuart Devlin has not been changed since the introduction. After the withdrawal of the one cent and two cents denominations from circulation in February 1992, the ten cent coin is now the second smallest circulating coin of the Australian dollar.

Australian 10 cent coins have been produced by the Royal Australian Mint and the Royal Mint, Llantrisant.

Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel.

Australian decimal coins have carried four portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.

The inclusion of an effigy of the Queen on the obverse of Australia’s coinage is mandated by Regulation 4 (c) of the Currency Regulations made under the Currency Act 1965. Portraits of Her Majesty have all faced to the right in line with a convention, said to have commenced with Charles II (1660-1685), that the new Monarch’s portrait would face in a direction opposite to that of their predecessor.

Lyrebird seen facing left with its tail plumes expanded forward over its head. The denomination numeral 10 [cents] is above the head of the bird; the artist’s initials SD (for Stuart Devlin) are in (very) tiny letters below, in the right field beside its foot.

Additional information