Composition:  Nickel plated steel

Weight:  6.5g

Diameter:   24.5mm

Thickness:  1.85mm

Obverse

Fourth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, legend around.

Lettering: 
ELIZABETH·II·D·G REG·F·D·2013
IRB

Translation: 

Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith (Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix)

Engraver: 

Ian Rank-Broadley 

Reverse

Upper left section of the Royal Shield of Arms, denomination to upper segment.

Lettering: 

TEN PENCE

Engraver: 

Matthew Dent 

Comments

Introduced in 2008 when the small coinage designs were changed from the Emblems of Britain to the Royal Shield of Arms.

Information received from the Royal Mint circulating coin team:

‘The issue date for nickel-plated steel 5 and 10 pence pieces was originally intended to be January 2011, however this was deferred to January 2012 to allow additional time for automatic vending machines to be updated to accept the coins. As a result, the 2011 dated 5 and 10 pence pieces were issued into circulation in 2012 instead.’