Samoa is an independent country in the Pacific not far from Tonga. American Samoa is the eastern part of the Samoan archipelago that has been an unincorporated US territory since 1900. The country of Samoa has a population of around 200,000, with American Samoa having around 55,000 inhabitants.
Flag of Samoa
History
Samoa has been inhabited by Polynesians since around 1000 BC. First Europeans to visit the island were Dutch explorers in 1722. The Samoan archipelago was known as the Navigator Islands because of the seafaring skills of the Samoans. European presence only developed from the 19th century with missionary and trading posts. By the end of that century, the Germans had developed the most commercial interests in cocoa and copra from the islands. This led to conflict with UK and US ambitions in the region, but agreement was reached in 1899 when Germany was awarded Western Samoa, Britain was given the Solomon Islands (claimed by Germany before) and the US were awarded the eastern part of Samoa which is still American today.
The Samoan islands
German presence on Samoa lasted only until WW1 but left lasting positive effects. Under German supervision a road network was built, an education system founded and hospitals set up.
New Zealand took over control of Western Samoa after British warships took the islands in 1914 without a shot fired. Independence was granted in 1962. The country's name was changed to Samoa in 1997.
Currency
Western Samoa used German Marks until 1914, when they were replaced by British Pounds. With New Zealand taking official control in 1920, Samoan currency followed that of New Zealand since with local paper money circulating alongside. In 1933 the New Zealand Pound was devalued by 20% and separate New Zealand coins and banknotes were introduced.
In 1967, the year that New Zealand decimalised its currency for 2 Dollars per Pound, Western Samoa did the same with introducing the Tālā. Until 1975 the Tālā was at par with the Kiwi, but started dropping slowly since. It is currently worth NZ$ 0.57 or US$ 0.38.
American Samoa has always used US Dollars and never had any independent issues of coins or banknotes.
Coins
Samoa's first coins date from 1967 and followed the compositions and sizes of the New Zealand Dollar. Already from 1968 a new series was introduced which lasted, with minimal updates, until 2010. In 2011 a new coinage was introduced with denominations of 10 Sene through 2 Tālā.
American Samoa (no circulation coins):
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/samoa-americaine-1.html
(Western) Samoa:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/samoa-1.html