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.
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.