The territory that now comprises Hong Kong was loosely part of China during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), and the area was part of the ancient kingdom of Nam Viet (203–111 BC). During the Qin dynasty, the territory was governed by Panyu County until the time of the Jin dynasty. 

Hong Kong was established as a colony of the British Empire after the Qing Empire ceded Hong Kong Island in 1841–1842 as a consequence of losing the First Opium War. The colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and was further extended when the United Kingdom obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories in 1898. Hong Kong was occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. The whole territory was transferred from the United Kingdom to China in 1997.

The ten-cent coin of the Hong Kong dollar is the oldest coin denomination to still be in circulation in Hong Kong. Since its first issue in 1863, there has only been one period (1942–1947) where the coin was not in use.  In 1948 the composition was changed to a nickel-brass. In 1952 the portrait of George VI was replaced by the portrait of Elizabeth II. Coin wit the security edge was minted from 1937 until 1971. The ten-cent piece was redesigned with a plain edge in 1982. 

Coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II were gradually withdrawn after the new bauhinia flower series began in 1993, with many Queen-era coins taken out by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and remaining legal tender but phased out as newer versions circulated. Older, pre-1982 10-cent coins were demonetized earlier, with older silver versions withdrawn after 1937, though the 1982-1992 versions were the main ones replaced around the handover. 

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary 1926 – 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 

6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was head of state of 15 realms at the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest verified reign of any female head of state in history.

OBVERSE: Crowned bust of  Queen Elizabeth II, facing right, wearing Tudor Crown (or King's Crown), a stylized heraldic crown, that the Queen traditionally wears for the State Opening of Parliament, and a prominent pearl necklace. On 4 May 1901, the king approved a single Tudor Crown design based on the crown of Henry VII, which representing continuity, duty, and tradition through historic jewels and patterns, embodying the nation's history and the monarch's divine authority.  The artist's initials is incuse on bust truncation.

Lettering: QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND CT

Designer : "CT" - Cecil Walter Thomas (1885 - 1976) was a British sculptor and medallist.

REVERSE: Chinese value within beaded circle, date lower right and mint mark below "N" in "CENTS

Lettering: ✿ HONG – KONG ✿  香  毫 • 一 港  TEN CENTS 1963 H

Mint: "H" - The Royal Mint Limited, Tower Hill London, wholly owned by His Majesty's Treasury

EDGE: Security edge

Mintage in 1963H         27 000 000

Country                    Hong Kong (British Territory 1841 - 1997)

Queen                        Elizabeth II (1952-1997)

Type                            Standard circulation coin

Value                        10 Cents (Years 1955-1968)

Currency                  Dollar (since 1863)

Composition            Nickel brass

Weight                         4.54 g

Diameter                  20.57 mm

Thickness                  1.85 mm

Orientation              Medal alignment ↑↑

References                KM# 28.1, Schön# 20