Mexico 1832-Z OM 1/2 real

Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction, part of lot 72246

This specimen was lot 72246 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), where it sold for $671. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. 1/2 Real, 1832-Z OM. Zacatecas Mint. NGC MS-64. Only example graded by NGC. Well struck with bright luster and golden tone. From the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors." The half real was popular among the people for making small transactions but most of the Mexican mints regarded making them a nuisance in the way of striking eight reales. Only Mexico City, Guanajuato and Zacatecas took seriously government decrees to issue small change. This specimen was struck at the Zacatecas mint in 1832, one of a type struck there 1826-63 and 1869. The larger denominations of this mint show the "Z^S" mintmark but this one uses a simple "Z". Assayer OM (Manuel Ochoa and Manuel Miner) is listed for 1831-56. The SCWC lists the 1832 as common, which it probably isn't.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.69 g, 0.903 fine silver, .049 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM-370.11.

Source:

• Busse, Dave, A Minor Challenge: A Study of Mexican Republic Silver ¼, ½, 1, 2 and 4 Reales Die Styles,, Harlingen, TX: 2018.
• Buttrey, T. V., and Clyde Hubbard, A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, 1822 to date, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1992.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Utberg, Neil S., The Coins of Mexico, 1536-1963, San Antonio, TX, 1963.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.

Link to:

• 1831-Z ½ real
• 1832-M^O 1/16 real
• Jalisco 1832 1/8 real
• 1832-M^O ⅛ real
• Sonora 1832 ¼ real
• 1832-M^O ½ real
• 1832-D^O ½ real
• 1832-G^A ½ real
• 1832-G^O ½ real
• 1832-M^O ½ real
• 1832-D^O real
• 1832-G^A real
• 1832-G^O real
• 1832-M^O real
• 1832-Z^S real
• 1832-C^A 2 reales
• 1832-D^O 2 reales
• 1832-G^A 2 reales
• 1832-G^O 2 reales
• 1832-M^O 2 reales
• 1832-Z^S 2 reales
• 1832-Z^S 4 reales
• 1832-C^A 8 reales
• 1832-D^O 8 reales
• 1832-G^A 8 reales
• 1832-G^O 8 reales
• 1832-M^O 8 reales
• 1832-P^I 8 reales
• 1832-Z^S 8 reales
• 1832-M^O ½ escudo
• 1832-G^O 4 escudos
• 1832-D^O 8 escudos
• 1832-M^O 8 escudos
• 1833-Z ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1832
• return to Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905