...Samoa - 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Commemorative Limited Editions

Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa

(Independent State of Samoa)

Central Bank of Samoa (est.1984)

Currency - Tala (WST)

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Lautimui Afoa Uelese Va'ai (since 01.10.2023)

Governor - Maiava Atalina Emma Ainuu-Enari (since 11.08.2011)

Date - CHOGM 2024

Quantity - 2000* sets (* reportedly)

Dimensions - mm x mm

 

On 22.10.2024, the Central Bank of Samoa released four commemorative banknotes celebrating the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This meeting was held from 21.10.2024 to 26.10.2024. This is the 27th meeting and was held in the capital city of Apia in Samoa. CHOGM was first started in 1971, and was held in Singapore. CHOGM is a bi-annually meeting event and has been held in all five continents, with the United Kingdom holding the most in such meetings. In all, they have hosted CHOGM five times - 1977, 1986, 1997, 2018 and 2023* (*special sessions).

 

Fifty-six commonwealth nations attended the 2024 CHOGM, with the majority of which were represented by the country's Head of State or Prime Minister. However, the leaders of India, South Africa and Canada, namely Narendra Modi, Cyril Ramaphosa and Justin Trudeau respectively did not attend this meeting as both Narendra Modi, Cyril Ramaphosa were in Kazan Russian for the BRICS summit held on 22-24.10.2024, and as for Justin Trudeau, he was worried about his employment at home and had decided not to attend just in case he got a tap on his shoulder by someone from this own party. As head of the Commonwealth, King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla both attended this meeting in Apia and both arrived on 22.10.2024, after a 5 days stopover in Australia (Sydney and Canberra) for a short state visit.

 

To celebrate this special event, the Central Bank of Samoa issued four commemorative notes of 5, 10, 20 and 60 tala. The designs for these notes are the same as those recently issued series but with an added commemorative logo of CHOGM on the front of each note.

 

In terms of commemorating the CHOGM events since 1971, this is the fifth time that banknotes have been issued to celebrate this special event and is also the only time that more than one note has been released. Below are banknotes released since 1997 to celebrate the CHOGM events : -

1997 - Scotland, Clydesdale Bank plc - £20;

2007 - Uganda - 10,000 shillings;

2009 - Trinidad and Tobago - $100;

2013 - Sri Lanka - 500 rupees; and

2024 - Samoa - 5, 10, 20 and 60 tala.

Whilst all previous CHOGM commemorative notes were released as face value, the Samoa CHOGM sets are not as they are all sold at a premium.

 

Given that these notes were recently released in the country for general circulation, and according to the central bank, these commemorative notes were issued in limited edition. However, I do not have the details as to how many sets were issued. According to a dealer's site, it was claimed that only 2,000 sets were issued for the three polymer notes of 5, 10 and 20 tala and for the 60 tala, it was reported but not confirmed that only 1000 sets were made available. Also according to the bank's website, these commemorative notes were sold in albums and folders. It should also be noted that the 60 tala note is a double commemorative series as the same notes were issued at two separate occasions to celebrate different historical events, albeit one with CHOGM logo overprint on it.

 

217.5mm x 136mm

All notes are printed with a CHOGM 2024 hologram logo on the front of each note. The logo is surrounded by microtext that lists the names of all 56 Commonwealth countries, and trust me, it's extremely hard to read them. I suppose this is why they called it microtext. All the commemorative notes begin with the serial number 060xxxx, and this is chosen because of Samoa's recent 60th anniversary of independence, which was celebrated in 2023 with the issuance of the 60 tala banknote. The original release for the 60 tala 2023 commemorative note was one million pieces. 

 

The next CHOGM will be held in 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda in the capital city of St. John's. Now, that would be a very nice few days of sun and sea holidays! The question I have here is that will there be any banknotes planned for this event? Antigua and Barbuda will be celebrating their 45th year of independence from the British in 2026 (November 1st) and if this 28th CHOGM is held around that time, it would be a double celebration for this tiny nation. No date has been set for this meeting yet. 

 

Here, I have posted a full set with matching serial numbers printed with the serial numbers of 0600246.

Five Tala (Polymer)

 

Dimensions - 140.5mm x 73mm

Front - Tourism team. A beautiful pristine view of a sandy beach in Samoa. Tourism is one of the main economic drivers of Samoa.

Back - Robert Louis Stevenson's former residence in Samoa. He is known as Tusitala (Teller of Tales) to the locals in Samoa. Robert Louis Stevenson (b.1850-1894) was a Scottish novelist and a travel writer. He settled in Samoa in 1890 and died of a stroke in 1894 at the age of 44 years old. He died in a village called Vailima (Villa Vailima) which is about four miles south of Apia, the capital of Samoa. His former residence is now a museum.

Ten Tala (Polymer)

 

Dimensions - 140mm x 73mm

Front - Sport theme. It features Samoa's rugby sevens team triumphant victory, crowned champions at the International Rugby Board (IRB) Hong Kong Sevens in 2007. This tournament was founded in 1976 and is a 3 days event held annually in Hong Kong. Since then, Samoa have won three times, in 1993, 2007 and 2010.

 

Back - Happy Samoan children on their way to school.

 

Twenty Tala (Polymer)

 

Dimensions - 140.5mm x 73mm

 

Front - Image of Sopoaga falls in Samoa. This waterfall is situated on the island of Upolu and is the largest waterfall in Samoa. entrance to this falls cost 10 tala per person.

Back - Featuring the national bird of Samoa, the Manumea, and Samoa's national flower, the Teuila.

Back - Featuring the national bird of Samoa, the Manumea, and Samoa's national flower, the Teuila.

 

Sixty Tala (Paper)

Governor - Maiava Atalina Emma Ainuu-Enari (since 2011)

Minister of Finance - Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo (since 2021)

Date - CHOGM 2024

Watermark - Teuila flower (purple alpine), acronym CBS

Quantity - 1000* sets (* unconfirmed)

Dimensions - 141mm x 73.5mm  

 

Front - This note is issued in a tri-fold folder. The portrait of Fiame Naomi Mataafa, the Prime Minister of Samoa. Prior to becoming the Prime Minister, she was the Deputy Prime Minister from 2016 to 2020 representing the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). In 2021, she joined the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (or FAST - Samoa United in Faith party) and was elected as their leader in March 2021. The FAST party was founded on 30.07.2020. She is the seventh Prime Minister of Samoa. In the center is the 60 SAMOA independence commemorative logo, and to the right is the billowing Samoa flag in blue and red colours and the Southern Cross constellation in white.

 

Back - The reverse side of the banknote depicts Samoa first Prime Minister of Samoa, the Honourable Fiame Matāa’fa Faumuina Mulinuu II (b.1921-1975), as he lowered the New Zealand flag on its first Independence in 1962, together with the 26th Prime Minister of New Zealand Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake (b.1904-1983) lowering the Samoan flag. The Western Samoan flag was then raised by joint heads of state Malietoa Tanumafili ll and Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole. Fiame Matāa’fa Faumuina Mulinuu II was also a Samoan paramount chief. To the right is the billowing flag of Samoa, and the commemorative logo is repeated on the bottom right side of the note. 

 

This is a tri-fold folder that comes with the 60 tala note. Inside the folder it has printed with information regarding the issuance of this commemorative note. It appears that these folders were presented as gifts to those who attended this meeting. I wonder if Narendra Modi, Cyril Ramaphosa and Justin Trudeau all got one too?

First Fold - As a remembrance of your participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 and your visit to our beautiful islands, we present you with a special commemorative banknote created specially for this year's CHOGM held in Apia, Samoa.

A unique CHOGM 2024 hologram has been applied to the 60-tala commemorative banknote to create a special, commemorative banknote souvenir, especially prepared for this year's CHOGM in Samoa.

May you cherish this keepsake that marks a significant milestone not only in the history of Samoa but also in the history of the Commonwealth.

 

Center fold - On May 31, 2023, the Central Bank of Samoa issued a commemorative banknote celebrating Samoa's 60th anniversary of independence. The obverse of the banknote portrays Samoa's current and first female Prime Minister, the Honorable Fiame Naomi Mataa'fa. The reverse of the banknote depicts her father, the first Prime Minister of Samoa, the Honorable Fiame Mataa'fa Faumuina Mulinuu II, as he lowered the New Zealand flag on the country's first day of independence in 1962. This commemorative banknote honors and recognizes Samoa's core strength as its foundation in God with the words: "Folau ma le Faatuatua" (Sail with Faith) and "Faavae i le Atua Samoa" (Based on the God of Samoa).  

This commemorative banknote proudly won the title of "Best Commemorative Banknote of the Year"at the High Security Printing Asia event held in December 2023 in Sri Lanka.

 

 

Stamps:

To the left is a set of four Singaporean stamps issued in 1971 to celebrate the first CHOGM held in Singapore. If you look and count the number of flags printed on the stamps, there were only 32 countries attending this inauguration meeting back then. I have had this set of stamps in my collection since 1971, and unfortunately, as I have had them for so many years, you can see the aging effect on them.