1 pound 1963
About This Note
This is a pristine, uncirculated example of the 1963 Western Samoa 1 Pound banknote (Pick P-14a), featuring a striking colorful obverse with the national coat of arms prominently displayed within a circular seal flanked by palm trees and tropical sunset imagery. The reverse presents a detailed black and white engraved scene of a traditional Samoan fale (thatched house) on stilts in a coastal landscape, exemplifying the currency's cultural significance during Western Samoa's early independence period. The exceptional condition, combined with the note's historical importance as early post-independence currency and vibrant multi-color printing on the obverse, makes this an attractive example for Pacific currency collectors.
Common. This is a standard circulation-issue banknote from the inaugural currency series of Western Samoa, produced in sufficient quantities for general circulation in 1963. The note was issued during the early years of independence when the nation required substantial currency supplies, and no evidence suggests a limited print run, early recall, or extraordinary rarity. The Pick P-14a designation is a basic catalog entry without variant notation, indicating a straightforward standard issue.
This 1 Pound note was issued by the Bank of Western Samoa in 1963, during the newly independent nation's formative years following independence from New Zealand in 1962. The design's prominent display of the national coat of arms (featuring a cross, laurel wreath, and three stars) and the Samoan national motto 'Fa'avae i le Atua Samoa' (Founded on God is Samoa) reflect the country's assertion of sovereignty and cultural identity. The reverse's depiction of the traditional fale architecture and Samoan coastal landscape served to anchor the currency in the nation's cultural heritage during this pivotal period of nation-building.
The obverse features the central national coat of arms of Western Samoa, a circular seal containing a cross at the top, surrounded by a laurel wreath and incorporating three stars, all rendered in detailed color work. This seal is framed symmetrically by stylized palm trees on both left and right margins, with a sunset or sunrise scene over water creating a tropical atmosphere. The design employs vibrant orange, green, purple, and blue tones with extensive guilloche patterns and geometric border work providing security and visual appeal. The reverse presents a meticulously engraved landscape scene depicting a traditional Samoan fale—a distinctive conical-roofed, elevated house structure characteristic of Samoan architecture—positioned centrally in a coastal setting with palm trees, a canoe or small boat on the water with a figure, and forested hills in the background. Ornamental Samoan spiral motifs (likely fa'atau or similar traditional patterns) appear in the top corners flanking numeral denominations, with intricate border guilloche work completing the composition.
FRONT SIDE: 'FALE TUPE O SAMOA I SISIFO' (Bank of Western Samoa / Currency of Western Samoa); 'ONE POUND' / 'TASI LE PAUNI' (One Pound in English and Samoan); 'LEGAL TENDER IN WESTERN SAMOA'; 'FA'AVAE I LE ATUA SAMOA' (Founded on God is Samoa - national motto); 'BANK OF WESTERN SAMOA'; 'MANAGER' (signature line designation); Serial number '462609'. BACK SIDE: 'FALE TUPE O SAMOA I SISIFO' (Bank of Western Samoa); 'ONE POUND' / 'TASI LE PÁUNI' (One Pound in both languages); 'BANK OF WESTERN SAMOA'.
Mixed intaglio printing technique combining color-printed offset lithography for the obverse (exhibiting multiple color separations in orange, blue, green, and purple) with fine-line steel engraving for the reverse (displaying characteristic intaglio line-work depth and precision). The extensive use of guilloche patterns, geometric line-work, and intricate border designs indicates security printing by a professional currency printer, likely an established international banknote printing house such as Thomas De La Rue or similar firm experienced in Commonwealth currency production during the 1960s.
Serial number observed: 462609. This note represents the standard P-14a variety without apparent overprints, special markings, or signature variations. The 1963 date is consistent with the catalog designation. No prefix variations or security feature modifications are evident in the visual analysis.
