Here, I have posted 8 notes all reportedly issued in (nd)2020. There are reprints from previous issues but not sure if these were newly printed banknotes or these were derived from reminders of old stocks. All notes are printed with watermark features, presumably the same as those original issues. I have a very strong feeling that these are newly reprints and not from the old stock.
According to a letter dated 08.06.2020 and signed by the bank governor, Maiava Atalina Ainuu Enari, these notes were released to a company called Van Reijen International Agencies Limited, a Coins, Banknotes and postage stamps dealer in Guernsey. In the letter, it also stated that these notes were released mainly for numismatic purposes. It looks like this company in Guernsey has the sole distribution rights on these reprints. I believe I have a full set of these Samoa numismatic reprints here.
Maiava Atalina Ainuu Enari is the current Bank Governor of the Central Bank of Samoa and she has been in this role since August 2011.
In order to differentiate these reprints from those issued earlier is the letter prefix printed on these reprints. Most of the previous original issues were printed without a letter prefix. For these reprints, they are printed with either a letter 'S' or 'T', the prefix 'V' was also reported. I have seen one note with the letter 'W' too. Unfortunately, I do not have any of the original issues in my collection, as if I do, I would compare these notes side by side. The signatures on these notes are the same as those initially issued for circulation. Obviously, and I believe, most or all of them are no longer with us today. It would be a miracle if any of them are still around.
Whilst these are reprints for collectors, I am not sure if the notes here are still legal tender in Samoa. As these are reprints, the notes are all printed with the words 'Legal Tender' on it. I also understand that all Samoa notes issued in Tala values are still legal tender.
The first three reprint notes are from the 1963 series of 10 shillings, £1 and £5. In 1967, it changed the £sd system to decimal. The £sd currency is an archaic system and it can be a bit time consuming in working out the calculation, and to improve economic efficiency and to align with global trading partners, the decimal system was adopted. Interesting thing is that the British did not convert to the decimal currency system until 1971. Australia did that on Valentine's day in 1966, both Samoa and New Zealand on 10.06.1967, Tonga on 03.04.1967 and Fiji on 15.01.1969. Countries like Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea were using Australia currency before adopting its own as of today.
Now you must be wondering why I buy these notes? I am just wondering this myself and I do not have an answer for you. Is this a total waste of money? Perhaps it is as some of these may not be worth anything. I did not get these when it was first announced until recently. Whilst these are numismatic items that should or should not be considered as collectibles for notaphilists, they are all printed with strong watermarks security features (I believe) like those original real money. If these are actually the same as those originally issued in the 1960s with the same security features, then credit must be given to the bank. This is much better than those so called 'Reproduction' of banknotes that you find selling in the market. My original intention was to ignore them but changed my mind as my aim is to collect all modern banknotes issued in the Pacific regions. Having these original notes issued in the 1960s in an uncirculated collection would be a dream. However, getting them may cost a fair bit, so instead having these reprints is my second best.🤣
I believe uncut sheets are also available but I do not have the details, and I have no intention to get them, not even one sheet. For them, I believe it is a total waste of money, money that I can channel into other banknotes that I am interested in.
Ten Shillings (One Tala conversion)
Front - Coat of Arms on the left. Fishermen at work. Sea and landscape in the back.
Manager - N.O. Maitland
Date - nd2020 (reprint of 1963 series)
Watermark - Repeating alphabet letters BWS (Bank of Western Samoa )
Sizes - 139mm x 77mm
Back - A thatched hut in the center by the beach. Thatched huts in Samoa are built mainly for residential living, coastal relaxation, and are also used for low-budget visitor accommodation. They are designed to provide shade, cool airflow, and protection from rain. A thatched hut in Samoa is called 'fale'. Coconut trees on both sides of the hut.
One Pound (Two Tala conversion)
Front - A large Coat of Arms in the center. Coconut trees on both sides with sunrise or sunset. I would take these as sunrise on one side and then sun set on the other. Coconut plantations are a vital part of Samoa's rural economy as about 30% of its land area is used for cultivation.
Manager - N.O. Maitland
Date - nd2020 (reprint of 1963 series)
Watermark - Repeating alphabet letters BWS (Bank of Western Samoa )
Sizes - 158mm x 82mm
Back - A thatched hut on center right with a beach scene with coconut trees and a boat with a person in the background.
Five Pounds (Ten Tala conversion)
Front - A billowing flag of Samoa. Arms on lower right. A Kava bowl on the left. In my book, this is a large sized note, just like all other old banknotes.
Manager - N.O. Maitland
Date - nd2020 Reprint (reprint of 1963 series)
Watermark - Repeating alphabet letters BWS (Bank of Western Samoa )
Sizes - 167mm x 67.5mm
Back - Banana trees on the left, coconut trees in the center left and cocoa trees on the right. In the background is a sense of a beach and landscape in the distance. Samoa produces about 22,000+ metric tons of bananas annually and mainly exports them to New Zealand. For coconut cultivation, it mainly exports organic virgin coconut oil and copra. In general, the cocoa beans production is considered relatively very small, as it accounts for roughly 0.01% global production. These beans are also used to manufacture a Samoan traditional drink called 'koko Samoa', a niche export market exists, mainly to New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
One Tala
Front - Arms on the left. Fishermen at work. Sea and landscape in the back. As Samoa is a small nation in the Pacific ocean, fishing represents approximately 3.5% to its national GDP. Small-scale fisheries and aquaculture provide substantial economic value to the nation, estimated around T$70 million annually. It should also be noted that about 25% of the Samoan households are involved in fishing, one way or the other.
Senior Manager - K.W. Taylor
Date - nd2020 (reprint of 1967 series)
Watermark - Repeating alphabet letters BWS (Bank of Western Samoa )
Sizes - 138mm x 77mm
Back - A thatched hut in the center by the beach. Coconut trees on both sides of the hut.
Two Tala
Front - A large Arms in the center. Coconut trees on both sides with sunrise or sunset.
Senior Manager - K.W. Taylor
Date - nd1967 reprint (reprint of 1967 series)
Watermark - Repeating alphabet letters BWS (Bank of Western Samoa )
Sizes - 144mm x 77mm
Back - A thatched hut on center right with a beach scene with coconut trees and a boat with a person in the background. This scene looks very calm and relaxing.
Ten Tala
Front - A billowing flag of Samoa. Arms on lower right. A Kava bowl on the left.
Senior Manager - K.W. Taylor
Date - nd2020 (reprint of 1967 series)
Watermark - Repeating alphabet letters BWS (Bank of Western Samoa )
Sizes - 150mm x 76mm
Back - Banana trees on the left, coconut trees in the center left and cocoa trees on the right. In the background is a sense of a beach and landscape in the distance. This scene or design is good enough as a picture hanging on the wall.
One Tala
Front - A billowing flag of Samoa in the center left. Two women weaving using pandanus leaves. In the center is the landscape of the sea and mountains.
Chairman - Filipo Vaovasamanaia
Date - nd2020 (reprint of 1980 series)
Watermark - A head of a man facing right
Sizes - 140mm x 72mm
Back - A billowing flag of Samoa in the center right. Two fishermen at work. Below the flag is the Coat of Arms of Samoa.
One Tala (Specimen)
Date - nd2020 reprint
Watermarks - A head of a man facing right. 5 x 1 numeral numbers (2 large and 5 small) under UV light
Sizes - 140mm x 72mm
Note - Only the front is printed with the word 'Specimen' but not on the back.
Two Tala (Specimen)
Front - A billowing flag on the left and a woodcarver to the right. In the center is the landscape of the sea and mountains.
As you can see, this reprint note or 2 tala is printed with the word 'Specimen' in the center, like the one tala posted above. Why, I am not sure. The note has a normal 6-digit serial number and the letter prefix is 'S'. I understand that no Samoan paper banknotes issued have been demonetised yet and as normal numismatic reprints for this note without the word Specimen are also available, then why the authority also print this note as specimen note, when this note was issued for collectors only and not intended for normal circulation. Even if this normal note has the face value of 2 tala and is legal tender, it is very unlikely that anyone would cash this in as the cost of getting such note is much higher than the face value itself. It should be noted that on the front is printed with the word 'Specimen' and none on the reverse.
Minister of Finance - Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Date - nd2020 (1985)
Watermarks - A head of a man facing right. 5 x 2 numeral numbers (2 large and 5 small) under UV light
Sizes - 140mm x 72mm
Back - A thatched hut on center right with a beach scene with coconut trees. Only the front is printed with the word 'Specimen' but not on the back.
