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1 Tala - Tanumafili II Robert Louis Stevenson
| Issuer | Samoa |
|---|---|
| Year | 1969 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Obverse description | The national arms of Western Samoa occupy the central field, comprising a quartered shield displaying a coconut palm above ocean waves and five stars of the Southern Cross, flanked by two olive branches and surmounted by a Latin cross. The Samoan national motto 'FAAVAE I LE ATUA SAMOA' appears on a scroll at the base of the arms. The country name 'SAMOA I SISIFO' curves along the upper periphery, the date '1969' is positioned to either side of the cross above the shield, and the denomination '$1' is inscribed at the bottom of the field. |
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| Reverse description | A three-quarter length portrait of the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson is depicted seated and facing left, shown in the act of writing. To the upper left of his figure, his birth city and year 'EDINBURGH 1850' and his place and year of death 'VAILIMA 1894' are inscribed. The circular legend 'ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON' curves along the upper periphery, while his Samoan honorific title 'TUSITALA' (meaning 'Teller of Tales') appears at the base, completing the commemorative design. |
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| Additional information |
This coin was issued the year Samoa introduced its decimal currency system, replacing the pound with the tala. Tanumafili II, who would go on to become the world's first head of state to convert to the Bahá'í Faith, reigned as O le Ao o le Malo until his death in 2007 — one of the longest-serving heads of state of the 20th century.
Robert Louis Stevenson settled in Samoa in 1890, built his estate Vailima above Apia, and died there in 1894. Samoans called him Tusitala — "teller of tales." He is buried on Mount Vaea, where his tomb inscription reproduces lines from his own "Requiem."