India 10-PAISE (KM26.3)

Asiatic lions (aka Indian Lion, Persian Lion, Panthera leo persica) are a sub-species of lion that exist in a single population in India's Gujarat state. The image of the four Asiatic lions standing back to back are from the Ashoka Lion Capital (column top) dating back to around 250 BCE. This image of the capital was adopted as the official Emblem of India in 1950.

In 1968, India replaced the scalloped copper-nickel 10 paise coin (KM25) with this nickel-brass version. It was minted until 1971 when it was replaced by larger aluminum coins.