10 September 2026, Apia Samoa. The Central Bank of Samoa is issuing limited-edition, 100-tālā commemorative banknotes celebrating the life and legacy of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Born in 1926, we are honouring her on the occasion of her 100th birth year.
The banknote is legal tender in Samoa but is not intended for general circulation.
It is intended as a commemorative issue for collectors and members of the public.
As a proud member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Samoa fondly remembers when the Queen and Prince Philip visited then Western Samoa on the 11th of February 1977 as part of her Silver Jubilee tour.
Welcomed by Samoa’s Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II, their arrival was met with great celebration and remains one of the most important events in Samoan history: the first visit by a reigning British monarch to (Western) Samoa.
The denomination of 100 tālā was chosen to commemorate her 100th birth year.
The obverse of the banknote features the iconic engraving of the 1934 Marcus Adams photo that appeared on a Canadian banknote in 1935.
Her childhood portrait is complemented with engravings of a 1951 Yousuf Karsh photograph of the then Princess and a 2007 photograph by Bill Ingalls of the Queen in her later years.
The reverse of the banknote shows the Queen, Prince Philip and Malietoa Tanumafili II, taken from original photographs from the historic 1977 visit.
The banknote combines royal imagery with landmarks and nature deeply connected to Samoa’s national identity.
The Samoan plumeria symbolizes beauty, charm and grace.
The restored and expanded Immaculate Conception Cathedral, one of Samoa’s oldest churches, is a tribute to the strong, Christian faith of the Samoan people. Island foliage and the spectacular Fuipisia Falls underscore the natural beauty of the islands.
Enticingly warm, blue ocean waves carry a green turtle, an outrigger canoe and an 18th century sailing ship, highlighting Samoa’s fauna, seafaring heritage and history.
The partial ruins of the London Missionary Society church in the Sale’aula lava field on Savai’i remind us of Samoa’s volcanic beginning.
This commemorative banknote stands as a fitting tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, her life and legacy.
This project was undertaken through a collaborative partnership between the Central Bank of Samoa and PBN Currency Solutions of Slovenia.
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