50 Sene - Tanumafili II Silver Proof issue

Western Samoa's 1974 proof series was struck to capitalize on the collector market that had emerged around newly independent Pacific nations during the early 1970s. The Franklin Mint, which handled a significant portion of these small-nation proof programs during this period, produced issues for Western Samoa under contract — raising the mintages to levels that, in retrospect, have kept secondary market premiums modest despite the silver content.

Tanumafili II was unique among heads of state at the time: his position as O le Ao o le Malo was held for life, while the office itself was subsequently made elective upon his death in 2007.