https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces26570.html
For this coin (and several other coins of Samoa) the name of the coin is "1 Tālā - Tanumafili II" but the face value is "1 Dollar". For some other coins with the same denomination the face value is "1 Tālā".
Is there there a reason for the distinction? Is there any reason not to convert the face values to 1 Tālā?
Currently if you use advanced search on face value two searches are required to find all of the coins, and I was confused for a while about why I couldn't find the coins I wanted.
That is strange as ever heading of each individual coin states 1 Tala.
Not one, that I have looked at has an actual listing as 1 Dollar
It may be because of the '$', but then, this symbol is used in other countries but not called dollar.
When looking at the information on the right hand side it does, in some of the coins state 1 Dollar.
Personally, I think this is an error and should be corrected. Not sure how these coins are listed in Krause. Error might even from there.
The word 'Tala' is actually derived from the German 'Thaler'.
Until fairly recently, the Tala was also known as the Western Samoan Dollar, due to the use of the Dollar sign - like the Malaysian Ringgit was also known as the Malaysian Dollar until the early 1993.
Even today, the Tala's currency code is 'WST' - as what is now known as the Independent State of Samoa was officially called 'Western Samoa' until 1997. Even today, this country is still commonly known as 'Western Samoa' to distinguish it from American Samoa.
Malietoa Tanumafili II's name is exactly that - as the 'Malietoa' part of his name is actually a hereditary chiefly title & must be included with 'Tanumafili II' - in accordance with tradition for Samoan chiefs (called 'Matai' in the Samoan language).
Both Western Samoa & New Zealand changed to decimal currency on the same date - 10th. of July 1967.
