10 Dollars - Elizabeth II Shark reef

Part of the Royal Australian Mint's ongoing colored circulation-format series, this piece uses pad printing rather than enamel inlay — a cost-driven process that applies pigment directly to the struck surface and remains vulnerable to wear in a way that traditional enameling is not. The shark reef subject ties to Australia's broader marine conservation messaging of the period, though the coin carries legal tender status rather than functioning as a conventional commemorative.