1 Tala Silver Serpent of Milan

The Serpent of Milan — the Biscione — has served as the heraldic symbol of the Visconti dynasty since at least the 13th century, and later became the emblem of the Sforza who succeeded them. Its origins are disputed: one tradition claims it was taken as a trophy from a Saracen knight during the Crusades; another ties it to older Lombard serpent cults predating Christianity in northern Italy. Samoa's involvement is purely a licensing arrangement, as the country has been a prolific issuer of themed bullion coins for the collector market since the early 2010s.