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Coinage of Samoa

Started by <k>, November 10, 2018, 05:01:46 PM

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<k>


Australasia and the Pacific Islands




Map of the Samoa Islands


From Wikipedia:

Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, is a country consisting of two main islands: Savai'i and Upolu, with four smaller islands surrounding the landmasses. Until 4 July 1997 it was known as Western Samoa. The capital city is Apia. The Lapita people discovered and settled the Samoan Islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed a unique Samoan language and Samoan cultural identity. Samoa is a parliamentary democracy and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The entire island group, which includes American Samoa, was originally called "Navigator Islands" by European explorers, because of the Samoans' seafaring skills.

Samoa reported a population of 194,320 in its 2016 census. About three-quarters of the population live on the main island of Upolu.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#1

The Samoan Coat of Arms.


The coat of arms of Samoa takes its inspiration from the United Nations, and its background is cross-hatched with a grid like the United Nations arms. New Zealand administered Western Samoa as a United Nations trusteeship until the country received its independence on June 1, 1962.

The official description of the coat of arms:

A silver shield with the lower two-thirds blue, having thereon 5 silver stars, representing the constellation of the Southern Cross; one half of the upper third depicting a green sea with a green coconut palm issuing therefrom; the shield being surmounted by a gold cross, and superimposed on 2 concentric circles of the world and the olive leaves as in the United Nations Badge, and bearing the subscription of the motto "Faavae i Le Atua Samoa", meaning in the English language "God be the Foundation of Samoa".
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#2

Samoa's flag.


The flag of Samoa was first adopted from February 24, 1949 for the UN Trusteeships. It was retained after the state's independence on January 1, 1962. It consists of a red field with a blue rectangle in the canton. The blue rectangle bears the constellation Southern Cross: four large white stars and one smaller star.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#3
INTRODUCTION OF THE TALA

From Wikipedia:

The tālā is the currency of Samoa. It is divided into 100 sene. The terms tālā and sene are the equivalents or transliteration of the English words dollar and cent, in the Samoan language. The tālā was introduced on 10 July 1967, following the country's political independence from New Zealand in 1962. Until that time, Samoa had used the pound, with coins from New Zealand and its own banknotes. The tālā replaced the pound at a rate of 2 tālā = 1 pound, and was therefore equal to the New Zealand dollar. The tālā remained equal to the New Zealand dollar until 1975.

Prior to 1967, New Zealand coins were used in Western Samoa, circulating alongside locally issued and New Zealand banknotes. In 1967, five and a half years after independence, new coins and notes were introduced, replacing the New Zealand Pound as the official currency. Coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 50 sene and $1 in equal size to the coins of New Zealand. 1 and 2 sene coins were struck in bronze, while the higher denominations were struck in copper-nickel.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#4
Samoa obverse 1967.jpg

Common obverse.


The obverse of the 1967 coins featured a portrait of the Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili.

The portrait was the work of Royal Mint sculptor Humphrey Paget, whose initials appear on the obverse.

"SAMOA I SISIFO" is Samoan for "Western Samoa", as the country was then called.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#5
Samoa 1 sene 1967.jpg

Common reverse of the 1 coin.


The design showed the Southern Cross constellation and two crossed sprigs.

The denomination appeared in the centre.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#6
Samoa 2 sene 1967.jpg



Samoa 5 sene 1967.jpg

Here you see the 2 and the 5 sene.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#7
Samoa 10 sene 1967.jpg

Reverse of the 10 sene coin.


The reverse sides of the higher denominations.

They show the denomination name in the Samoan language.

Elements of the coat of arms are also depicted.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#8
Samoa 20 sene 1967.jpg

Reverse of the 20 sene coin..
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#9
Samoa 50 sene 1967.jpg

Reverse of the 50 sene coin.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#10
Samoa 1 tala 1967.jpg

Reverse of the 1 tala coin.


Though intended as a circulation coin, it was heavy and bulky.

It weighed 27.5 g and had a diameter of 39 mm.

The population therefore generally preferred to use the 1 tala banknote.


See also:  Australasia and Oceania: The Southern Cross and Other Stars.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#11
Samoa obverse 1974.jpg

Common obverse of the copper-nickel coins.


In 1974 a new coin series was introduced.

The thematic reverse designs were the work of James Berry.

He had designed the reverses of New Zealand's first decimal coins.

They featured local plants used in agriculture.


The common obverse retained the portrait of the head of state.

The year now also appeared on the obverse.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#12
Samoa 1 sene 1974-.jpg

Common obverse of the bronze coins.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#13


Reverse of the 1 sene coin.


The reverse design of the 1 sene coin featured a coconut.

"JB", the initials of James Berry, appear at bottom right.


Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#14


Reverse of the 2 sene coin.


The reverse of the 2 sene coin featured two cocoa pods.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.