When the dollar was introduced as half of an Australian pound on 14 February 1966, the coin inherited the specifications of the pre-decimal shilling; both coins were worth one twentieth of a pound and were called "bob".

Since then, all coins have been produced in Canberra, with the exception of 1981 when 40 million coins from the Royal Mint's new headquarters in Llantrisant, Wales supplemented the 76.1 million produced in Canberra.

[2] The image of a male superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) is displayed on the reverse of all ten-cent coin.

[2] 2016 obverse design to celebrate the 50th anniversary of decimal currency As of 2022, the production cost of a 10c coin was confirmed as being more than the face-value of the coin by the Royal Australian Mint's CEO.

[4] 10c coins are legal tender for amounts not exceeding $5 for any payment of a debt.