| Specimen Issue - First Print 1990 Commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Service of his Highness the Head of State of Western Samoa (Samoa). Prefix AAA - Engraved |
||
| Obverse |  |
|
| Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II | ||
| Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II GCMG CBE was
born on 04/01/1913 as the son and third
child
of Malietoa Tanumafili I and Momoe
Lupeuluiva
Meleisea. He is one of the paramount
chiefs,
Malietoa (since 1939), and the current
head
of state of Samoa. He holds this position
for life. He descends from Samoa's
four princely
families (Aiga Tupu) and holds the
title
Malietoa, one of the paramount titles.
Upon
Samoa's independence in 1962, he was
joint
head of state with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole.
When the latter died in 1963, he became
sole
head of state. Tanumafili is the third-longest
serving head of state in the world,
after
the King of Thailand and Queen Elizabeth
II. It should be noted that Malietoa Tanumafili is not a king, but rather a president for life. After his death a new head of state will be selected; the office is not inheritable. |
||
| . | ||
 |
Reverse | |
| Family scene, #0323 | ||
| There are two varieties of specimens for the above note printed. Please click here to view the two versions. The one on the left is the first print (Prefixes AAA and AAB) and the one on the right is the third print (Prefixes AAE and AAF). | ||
Back to Previous Page