The Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) has issued limited-edition, commemorative banknotes honoring Samoa's historic hosting of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), being held in Apia, Samoa from October 21 to 26, 2024.

The commemorative banknotes, in the denominations of 5-tālā, 10-tālā, 20-tālā and 60-tālā, were officially issued on the first day of the conference.

 

 

 

The CHOGM is a biennial summit meeting of the governmental leaders from all 56 Commonwealth nations. Every two years the meeting is held in a different member state and is chaired by that nation's respective prime minister or president, who becomes the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office until the next meeting. Queen Elizabeth II, who was the Head of the Commonwealth, attended every CHOGM beginning with Ottawa in 1973 until Perth in 2011. She was represented by her son, the Prince of Wales, at the 2013 meeting when the 87-year-old monarch began curtailing long-distance travel. The Queen attended the 2015 summit in Malta and the 2018 summit (delayed by one year) in London, but was represented again by the Prince of Wales at the 2022 meeting (delayed by two years) in Rwanda. King Charles III, now the Head of the Commonwealth, is attending the CHOGM 2024, his first as King.

 

A CHOGM 2024 hologram was applied to 1000 pieces of the 60-tālā commemorative banknote (on the front, left), thus creating a new commemorative banknote, specifically prepared for presentation at this year's CHOGM. The 60-tālā banknote represents the celebration of a "NEW DAWN," the beginning of a new day which is the sign of living hope and a new era, as Samoans celebrated an important change in their country's history when the first female prime minister was appointed to create a new dream for the people of Samoa.

 

Additionally, the CHOGM 2024 hologram has been applied to a limited number of Samoa's new polymer 5-tālā, 10-tālā and 20-tālā banknotes (on the front, right) that feature Robert Louis Stevenson's former home, Villa Vailima, the Samoan rugby team being crowned champions at the International Rugby Board Hong Kong Sevens in 2007, and Sinaloa waterfall on Savai'i island respectively. These banknotes were specifically selected to provide cherished memories of Samoa's history, culture, nature and successes and are available to collectors worldwide.

 

The CHOGM 2024 hologram reproduces the official CHOGM logo in a unique, holographic format. All four commemorative banknotes begin with the serial number 060xxxx, specially chosen because of Samoa's recent 60th anniversary of independence, which was honored last year with the issuance of the 60-tālā commemorative banknote.

 

The optical security feature was specifically crafted for CHOGM 2024. This distinctive design showcases advanced optical effects such as 3D bas-relief, kinetic effects and 400-micron microtext listing all 56 Commonwealth countries. Developed by IQ Structures using nanoDOVID®, this sophisticated nanoengineering technology enables multiple levels of authentication (overt, covert and forensic) and offers unparalleled protection against counterfeiting. IQ Structures, located near Prague, Czechia, is a first-class supplier of anti-counterfeiting protection based on nanostructures. Its optical security features safeguard more than a billion documents every year, delivering cutting-edge, anti-counterfeiting solutions to protect identity documents, banknotes and valuables for countries all around the world. The company has received several prestigious international awards for excellence and scientific innovation and is a regular winner of the IHMA Excellence in Holography award.

 

These 56 Commonwealth countries' names appear in the microtext:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- St Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Vanuatu
- Zambia

 

Commemorative albums and folders containing the new CHOGM banknotes were prepared for presentation and sale at the CHOGM 2024:
- A deluxe, high-quality, VIP presentation album, containing one 60-tālā CHOGM commemorative banknote, was personally presented at the CHOGM to each head of state of the 56 Commonwealth countries and several other dignitaries by the Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa.
- A glossy, trifold folder (with an envelope), containing one 60-tālā CHOGM commemorative banknote, was sold by the CBS at the conference to delegates. If any folders remain unsold after the conference, they will be made available to collectors at a cost of 67.50 euros, available from PBN Ltd.
In addition to the commemorative VIP albums and Delegates folders presented and/or sold at the CHOGM, the CBS also issued a special booklet album that contains the 5-tālā, 10-tālā and 20-tālā polymer CHOGM commemorative banknotes, allowing collectors worldwide to acquire treasured souvenirs from Samoa's historic hosting of the CHOGM 2024. These commemorative booklets, of which just 2000 have been produced, are being exclusively marketed by PBN Ltd on behalf of the CBS at a cost of 85 euros each.
Over the years, several countries have issued commemorative stamps, coins and banknotes to honor their respective hostings of the CHOGM. The following commemorative banknotes have been issued:
- 2007: Uganda 10,000 Shillings, Pick 48 (issued in a deluxe VIP album, a paper folder and as a circulating banknote).
- 2009: Trinidad and Tobago 100 Dollars, Pick 52 (issued as a circulating banknote).
- 2013: Sri Lanka 500 Rupees, Pick 129 (issued in a paper folder and as a circulating banknote).
- 2024: Samoa.

 

 

 

 

 

Donald Ludwig, October 20, 2024