Taro outlived the country’s change of name: James Berry’s 1974 design stayed on the reverse of the 10 sene in 2002, when the obverse received a legend without «I SISIFO», since a constitutional amendment of 4 July 1997 had made Western Samoa simply Samoa.

The new legend «MALIETOA TANUMAFILI II SAMOA» surrounds the familiar portrait of the head of state by Thomas Humphrey Paget, with the date moved below. The reverse shows taro (Colocasia esculenta) above the value «10 SENE».

Because of the new legend, catalogues treat the coin as a separate type, KM# 132, struck from 2002 to 2010 at the Royal Australian Mint. That makes the 2002 10 sene the natural companion to a coin with «SAMOA I SISIFO»: together they show how the country changed its name on its money.

The AU-UNC grade sits on the border between AU and UNC: no signs of circulation, or barely visible ones on the highest points, with the mint lustre almost entirely preserved.

A coin from the VPcoins range makes a good starting point for a themed selection or a date run.