Images of the limited edition $10 tala banknote to commemorate next month's XVI Pacific Games have been released by the Central Bank of Samoa.

A statement by the Bank said: “The new note design celebrates the youth of Samoa and our sporting legacy.  

“Their stories of daily life and the realisation of their sporting dreams are told through images placed on the note.” 

The $10 tala will be the second polymer banknote to be issued in Samoa, said the statement. 

“The new substrate and innovative security features will help to deter counterfeiting while making it easy to identify a genuine note.  

“The Banknote will feature a see through window depicting the Pacific Games logo, and a tactile embossed feature to assist the visually impaired; both are unique features of polymer banknotes.” 

The banknote carries the spirit of the Games, highlighting the logo “One in Spirit / Tasi I le Agaga” on both sides of the note, while “the Logo is uniquely depicted as a clear window with flames coloured gravure that supports the clear window shape”. 

The standard banknote prefix has been replaced with the special PG/XVI prefix denoting ‘XVI Pacific Game’, added the statement. 

The new $10 tala note will be issued on the last week of June, and will co-circulate together with the existing $10 tala, which remains legal tender.

Samoa is set to host about 4,000 officials and athletes from around the region including Australia and New Zealand at the Games from July 7-20.