25 Shillings Santa Maria

Somalia's nominal government in 2001 had virtually no functioning central bank, and coin issues of this period were largely produced by private minting contractors — primarily the Banca d'Italia's affiliate arrangments and European mints acting on licensing deals with whatever administrative authority could sign the paperwork. The Santa Maria series belongs to a wave of collectible-themed issues that exploited Somalia's issuing name while having no relationship to Somali commerce or circulation.