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10 Tālā - Tanumafili II 'La Récherche'
| Issuer | Central Bank of Samoa |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
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| Diameter | 38.61 mm |
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| Obverse description | The national coat of arms of Samoa occupies the central field, depicting a shield charged with a coconut palm above stylised ocean waves and five stars of the Southern Cross constellation, surmounted by a cross and encircled by a wreath of olive branches. A scroll beneath the shield bears the national motto 'FAAEE LE ATUA SAMOA'. The legend 'SAMOA I SISIFO' arcs along the upper periphery in bold Latin characters, while the denomination '$10' appears in the lower field. |
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| Reverse description | A finely detailed engraving of the two-masted sailing vessel La Recherche under full sail dominates the central field, depicted in three-quarter profile navigating calm waters. The ship's rigging, sails, and hull are rendered with precise detail in the proof finish. The curved legend 'JEAN FRANCOIS GALAUP - COMTE DE LA PEROUSE' arcs along the upper periphery, with the vessel's name 'La Recherche' inscribed in italic script across the upper left field. The date '2004' is placed centrally in the lower exergue. |
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| Additional information |
The French corvette La Recherche made its Pacific passage as part of the 1791–1794 expedition dispatched to search for the lost La Pérouse expedition — itself already three years missing when La Recherche sailed. The search found nothing conclusive, though the voyage produced significant natural history documentation of the Samoan islands.
Tanumafili II, joint Head of State from 1962 and sole Head of State from 1963, converted to the Bahá'í Faith in 1968 — the first head of state in the world to do so.