Mexico 1838-Z OM 1/2 real

Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction, part of lot 72265

This specimen was part of lot 72265 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), which sold for $561.20. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. Group of 1/2 Reales (18 Pieces), 1826-62. Zacatecas Mint. Grade Range: EF Details to VF Details. A group of mixed date 1/2 Reales with various conditions and wear. From the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors." Of the fourteen mints of the Republic of Mexico, only Oaxaca and Real de Catorce did not strike this type. This specimen was struck at the Zacatecas mint in 1838, 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 1838 as a common date, which it probably isn't, with no overdates. Mexico City was the only other mint to strike half reales in 1838.

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:

• 1837-Z ½ real
• 1838-M^O ¼ real, private pattern
• Tuxtla 1838 1/4 real, fantasy or salesman's sample
• 1838-Z^S ¼ real, private pattern
• 1838-G^A ½ real
• 1838/7-G^O ½ real
• 1838-M^O ½ real
• 1838-G^A real
• 1838/7-G^O real
• 1838-P^I real
• 1838-Z^S real
• 1838-G^A 2 reales
• 1838-G^O 2 reales
• 1838-Z^S 2 reales
• 1838-G^O 4 reales
• 1838-P^I 4 reales
• 1838-Z^S 4 reales
• 1838-C^A 8 reales
• 1838-D^O 8 reales
• 1838-G^O 8 reales
• 1838-M^O ML 8 reales
• 1838-M^O MM 8 reales
• 1838-P^I 8 reales
• 1838-Z^S 8 reales
• 1838-D^O ½ escudo
• 1838-D^O escudo
• 1838-G^O 4 escudos
• 1838-D^O 8 escudos
• 1838-G^O 8 escudos
• 1838-M^O 8 escudos
• 1839-Z ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1838
• return to Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905