1 Tala - Tanumafili II

This coin was issued the year Western Samoa celebrated the tenth anniversary of independence from New Zealand administrative control, gained in 1962 — the first Pacific Island nation to achieve it in the twentieth century. Tanumafili II, joint Head of State at the time of issue, would eventually become sole Head of State after Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV's death in 1983, and held that position until his own death in 2007.