Thepound was the currency ofWestern Samoa between 1914 and 1967. It was subdivided into 20shillings, each of 12pence.
In 1914, following theNew Zealand occupation of German Samoa, thepound sterling replaced theGerman mark as the currency of the territory. When theNew Zealand pound broke its parity with thepound sterling in 1930 at the beginning of theGreat Depression, the Samoan unit followed the same course as theNew Zealand pound. There were no special issues ofsterling coinage issued forWestern Samoa. The circulating coinage was originallyUnited Kingdom coinage and from 1934 it became predominantly the new New Zealand coinage. WhenNew Zealand decimalized its currency in 1967, the Western Samoan pound was replaced by thetālā, at a rate of 1 pound = 2 tala.
For a more general view of history in the wider region, seeBritish currency in Oceania.
In 1915, the first, provisional notes (dated 1914 but issued 1915) were issued by the New Zealand Occupying Military force. These were overprinted one pound and five pound notes of the Bank of New Zealand signed by Lt. Colonel Logan. Overprinted Ten shillings notes of the Bank of New Zealand were added in 1920. In 1922, Treasury Notes were issued "by the authority of the New Zealand Government" in denominations of 10 shillings, 1 and 5 pounds. These notes were issued until 1961, when theBank of Western Samoa took over paper money issuance. The Bank's first issues were overprints on the Treasury Notes. In 1963, regular type notes were introduced in the same denominations.
