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5 Tālā
| Issuer | Central Bank of Samoa |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | FALETUPE TUTOTONU O SAMOA TUPE FA`ATAGAINA-MALO O SAMOA I SISIFO LEGAL TENDER IN WESTERN SAMOA LIMA TĀLĀ FIVE TĀLĀ CENTRAL BANK OF SAMOA (Translation: Central Bank of Samoa, Five Tālā) |
| Reverse description | The reverse carries a panoramic vignette of Apia harbour with a passenger vessel in the bay and the town of Apia extending along the waterfront. The national coat of arms is positioned to one side of the central scene, with the national flag of Samoa also incorporated into the design. Bilingual denomination inscriptions in Samoan and English flank the central vignette. |
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| Comments |
The 1985 series marked the first substantive redesign of Samoan paper currency following independence-era consolidation under the Central Bank, which had only been formally established in 1984. Thomas De La Rue handled the print run, as they did for the majority of Pacific island nations during this period — a near-monopoly built on competitive pricing and the logistical difficulty smaller states faced in sourcing reliable security printing elsewhere.
Watermark-only security was already considered minimal by 1985 standards, with most comparable issues incorporating security threads. Its absence here likely reflects cost rather than oversight.