Samoan tālā facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samoan tālā |
|
|---|---|
| ISO 4217 Code | WST |
| User(s) |  Samoa |
| Inflation | 1.3% |
| Source | The World Factbook, 2017 |
| Subunit | |
| 1⁄100 | sene |
| Symbol | $ |
| Coins | 10, 20, 50 sene, $1 and $2 |
| Banknotes | $5, $10, $20, $50, $60, $100 |
The tālā is the official money used in Samoa. It is split into 100 smaller parts called sene. The words tālā and sene are the Samoan versions of dollar and cent.
You might see the tālā written with a dollar sign ($). Sometimes, people use WS$ to show it's the Samoan dollar. This helps avoid confusion with other currencies also called 'dollar'. The word 'tala' actually comes from the German word 'Thaler'.
Samoa started using the tālā on 10 July 1967. This was after the country became independent from New Zealand in 1962. Before that, Samoa used the Western Samoan pound. They also used coins from New Zealand.
The tālā replaced the pound. Two tālā were worth one pound. This meant the tālā was equal in value to the New Zealand dollar at first. This stayed true until 1975. The symbol WS$ is still used. It stands for "Western Samoa," which was the country's name until 1997. Now, it's just "Samoa." Other symbols like SAT, ST, and T are also sometimes used.
The Central Bank of Samoa is in charge of making and managing Samoa's money.
Coins of Samoa
Before 1967, people in Samoa used coins from New Zealand. They also used local banknotes and New Zealand banknotes.
In 1967, Samoa introduced its own new coins and banknotes. This happened about five and a half years after they became independent. The new coins replaced the New Zealand Pound. The first coins were in values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 sene, and $1. They were the same size as New Zealand's coins.
The 1 and 2 sene coins were made of bronze. The higher value coins were made of a metal called cupro-nickel. All these coins showed the national symbol on one side. On the other side was Malietoa Tanumafili II, who was the Head of State at the time.
Coin Designs Over Time
In 1974, Samoa released a new set of coins. These coins were designed by James Berry. The designs showed local food plants. The 50 sene coin also got a new edge design. In 1984, a new $1 tālā coin was made. It had seven sides and was made of aluminum bronze. This coin was meant to replace the $1 banknote. However, it was quite big and heavy. People preferred using the banknote, so this coin was not very popular.
In 2000, a special 2 sene coin was made. It celebrated the new century and had a theme from the FAO.
The coins from 1974 to 2011 had these designs:
- 1 sene: A coconut
- 2 sene: Cocoa pods
- 5 sene: A pineapple
- 10 sene: A taro plant
- 20 sene: Breadfruit
- 50 sene: A banana tree
- $1 (1974): A palm tree
- $1 (1984): The national crest
Modern Coin Series
In 2011, the 1, 2, and 5 sene coins were taken out of use. It cost too much to make them, and people weren't using them much anymore. A new series of coins was also introduced. These new coins are smaller and have new shapes. This helps reduce how much they cost to make. They also look more modern.
The new coins show Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who was the Head of State then. Their designs are about local Samoan culture. This new series includes a new $2 coin. It has a wavy edge and is made of bronze-plated steel. It replaced the $2 banknote. The $1 coin is also made of bronze-plated steel. It still has seven sides but is smaller. The smaller 5, 10, 20, and 50 sene coins are made of nickel-plated steel. These coins were designed to be strong because Samoan coins get a lot of use.
The coins from the 2011 series show these designs:
- 10 sene: Fautasi canoe racers
- 20 sene: Teuila flower
- 50 sene: Manumea bird
- $1: Kava bowl and fly swatter
- $2: The national crest
These coins are made at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra.
Banknotes of Samoa
After Samoa became independent, the new government took over its money. They started issuing the new tālā banknotes. The first tālā banknotes came out in 1967. They were in values of $1, $2, and $10. The "Bank of Western Samoa" issued them. In 1980, a $5 note was added. This happened after the "Monetary Board of Western Samoa" was created.
Starting in 1985, the new Central Bank of Samoa began issuing notes. These notes looked similar to the ones before. But they had the new bank's name in both Samoan and English. The $1 note was stopped. New $50 and $100 notes were issued in 1990.
On 29 September 1991, a special $2 note was released. It celebrated the 50th anniversary of Malietoa Tanumafili II as Head of State. This was the first and only banknote made entirely of polymer (a type of plastic) in Samoa. These notes were taken out of use in 2011. The 2-tālā coin replaced them.
In 2008, a new series of banknotes came out. These notes were in values from $5 to $100. They were made by De La Rue, a company that prints money. These new notes have brighter colors, new security features, and modern designs. The $50 and $100 notes have a special security thread. It's called Optiks and has a see-through window.
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