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The flag of Samoa is rectangular in shape and red in color. The upper quadrant of the flag towards the hoist-side features a blue rectangle or canton. This canton bears the Southern Cross which consists of four five-pointed stars and a smaller one. The stars are all white in color.聽

The colors used in Samoa鈥檚 flag have their own symbolic meanings. The white color of the stars represents purity. The red and the blue colors of the flag denote loyalty and patriotism, respectively. The pattern of the stars on the blue canton represent the Southern Cross constellation.

History Of The Flag Of Samoa

For a while in history, the flags of the various colonial powers were in use in Samoa. During the rule of the German Empire, a tricolor flag of black-white-red featuring the Imperial Eagle was in use in Samoa. A different flag was used during the colonial rule by New Zealand. It was a defaced Blue Ensign with the image of three palm trees on the fly side. The flag that is used today in Samoa was first adopted on February 24, 1949. It was formally accepted as the national flag of Samoa on January 1, 1962.

National Anthem

• Anthem Title: O Le Fu'a o Le Sa'olotoga o Samoa聽(The Banner of Freedom)
• Composer: Sauni Iiga Kuresa
• Lyricist: Sauni Iiga Kuresa
• Date of Adoption: 1962

The national anthem of Samoa was adopted in 1962 when Samoa gained independence from the rule of New Zealand. It is called聽O Le Fu'a o Le Sa'olotoga o Samoa or聽The Banner of Freedom."聽Sauni Iiga Kuresa composed the music and also wrote the lyrics of the song.

The currency of Samoa is the Samoan t膩l膩. It is written as WST and its currency symbol is $. In addition to WST, other codes used to signify the t膩l膩 are SAT, ST, and T. The Samoan t膩l膩 is most commonly exchanged with the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). The Samoan t膩l膩 is minted and circulated by the Central Bank of Samoa.

Coins

In 1967, new coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 sene and $1 t膩l膩 coins were introduced. They replaced the New Zealand coins which were previously used. The coins were struck in bronze and cupro-nickel metals. Additionally, they had the national emblem on the reverse side and the portrait of Malietoa Tanumafili on the obverse of the coins. James Bass designed a new series of coins in 1974. The coins had an agricultural theme which featured locally grown produce such as pineapples, banana trees, palm trees, and cocoa pods. 1 Samoan t膩l膩 is subdivided into 100 sene. The coins currently in use in Samoa are 10, 20, and 50 sene, and 1 and 2 t膩l膩.

Banknotes

The first t膩l膩 banknotes were issued in 1967 in denominations of 1, 5, and 10 t膩l膩. Shortly afterwards, the 5 t膩l膩 was introduced. In subsequent years, the 50 and 100 t膩l膩 notes were issued and the 1 t膩l膩 was abolished. In 2008, De La Rue began printing a new series of Samoan banknotes which had a security thread, modern designs, and brighter colors. Presently, the banknotes in circulation are 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 t膩l膩.

The first banknote is the $2 t膩l膩, which is blue-yellow in appearance. The Samoan $5 t膩l膩 is a red-pink banknote which is made of polymer plastic. The front side features the nation鈥檚 sandy beaches which points to the significance the tourism industry has on the economic growth of the country. On the other hand, the Samoan $10 t膩l膩 is a blue-green banknote whose front side features the victory of the Samoa鈥檚 rugby sevens team in the year 2007, whereas the reverse side features the children of Samoa. The third banknote, the Samoan $20 t膩l膩, is a yellow-orange banknote. On its front side is a magnificent waterfall, while the reverse side portrays the nation鈥檚 national bird called 鈥淢anumea鈥� and the national flower called 鈥淭euila.鈥� The Samoan $50 t膩l膩 is a purple-blue banknote and the Samoan $100 t膩l膩 is an emerald green banknote made of polymer plastic. The reverse side of the note has a photo of Samoa鈥檚 Cathedral of Apia. On the other hand, the obverse side has a portrait of the Late Malietoa Tanumafili II, who was the nation鈥檚 leader.

Historical Currencies of Samoa

Prior to Samoa's independence from New Zealand in 1962, Samoa's currency was the Western Samoan pound, as well as the New Zealand dollar.