Catalog
200 Tala People and Buildings
| Issuer | Samoa |
|---|---|
| Year | 2000 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Gold (.999) |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | The Samoan national coat of arms is depicted centrally in the field, featuring a quartered shield supported by olive branches and surmounted by a cross, with the national motto 'FAAVAE I LE ATUA SAMOA' inscribed on a scroll below. A decorative pattern of horizontal wavy lines fills the background of the half-circle field. The legend 'SAMOA' runs vertically along the right border, the denomination '$200' appears at the lower portion of the field, and the date range '1999 - 2000' is inscribed along the upper arc. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The Statue of Liberty stands prominently in the centre of the field in high relief, her right arm raised bearing a torch and her left arm holding a tablet, set against a mirror-proof background. The Sydney Opera House is depicted in the right portion of the field, its distinctive shell-shaped roof vaults rendered in fine detail. The curved legend 'PEOPLE AND BUILDINGS' runs along the outer border of the half-circle, inscribed in raised serif capitals. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Issued to mark the millennium, this coin was part of a broader Pacific commemorative program that saw several island nations release high-denomination gold pieces in 2000 — many produced in small quantities for collector markets rather than any domestic monetary purpose. Samoa's financial system had no practical use for a 200 Tala gold coin in circulation.
Fr#39 places it within Friedberg's gold coinage listings, confirming its status as a legitimate monetary issue rather than a privately minted fantasy piece — a distinction that matters for this region and period.