Catalog
5 Tālā
| Issuer | Central Bank of Samoa |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Tala (5 WST) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | 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 | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Watermark |
| Protection description | the national emblem or pattern visible when held to light |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
The 1985 series marked the first substantive redesign of Samoan paper currency following independence-era consolidation under the Central Bank, which had only been formally established in 1984. Thomas De La Rue handled the print run, as they did for the majority of Pacific island nations during this period — a near-monopoly built on competitive pricing and the logistical difficulty smaller states faced in sourcing reliable security printing elsewhere.
Watermark-only security was already considered minimal by 1985 standards, with most comparable issues incorporating security threads. Its absence here likely reflects cost rather than oversight.