10 Cents

Sri Lanka's aluminium 10-cent issue came about following the country's switch from the earlier copper-nickel composition — a cost-driven decision that reflected broader pressures on small-denomination coinage across South and Southeast Asia during the late 1970s. Aluminium's low density made the 23mm planchet noticeably light relative to its size, which contributed to persistent public distrust of the coins in everyday commerce. Vending machine operators, in particular, found the pieces unreliable due to their poor conductivity and low mass.