Historical Sketch

The Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen discovered the Samoa archipelago for the Europeans in 1722 and called them Vuyle Eilandt (dirty island). In 1768, it was rediscovered by the French Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, who named the Îles Navigateurs. In the 1870s, rivalling colonial interests led to the establishment of German, British and United States trading posts. In 1889, a tripartite protectorate was established over the islands, but this did not settle the colonial conflict. The Samoa Treaty of 1899 finally achieved this when Great Britain withdrew the claim, and the islands were partitioned between Germany (western part) and the United States (eastern part). After the 1899 treaty the United States annexed the island with the Cession Treaties of Tutuila (April 1900) and Manu'a (July 1904), which were both formally ratified in 1929. By presidential executive order of 1900 Samoa became subject to Navy administration, and in 1951, they became subordinated to the Department of the Interior. In 1967, American Samoa adopted the constitution as (Unorganized and Unincorporated) Territory of the United States.

Monetary History Overview

When the United States took possession of Eastern Samoa, the United States Dollar became the common means of payment. It was never formally introduced by United States of local legislation.

Currency Units Timeline

Currency Institutes Timeline

Monetary History Sources