Samoa's decimal coinage was introduced in 1967 when the country — then Western Samoa — converted from the pound system, with Tanumafili II serving as one of two co-heads of state alongside Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole until the latter's death in 1963 left him sole O le Ao o le Malo. His image anchored the coinage for over three decades, an unusually long continuous run for a Pacific island nation of this size.
Samoa's decimal coinage was introduced in 1967 when the country — then Western Samoa — converted from the pound system, with Tanumafili II serving as one of two co-heads of state alongside Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole until the latter's death in 1963 left him sole O le Ao o le Malo. His image anchored the coinage for over three decades, an unusually long continuous run for a Pacific island nation of this size.