Mexico 1839-Z OM 1/2 real

Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction, lot 72252

This specimen was lot 72252 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, 1839-Z OM. Zacatecas Mint. NGC MS-65. Finest of just two examples graded by NGC. Bright white luster, exceptional for this date. Very rare condition. 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 1839, 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 1839 as an uncommon date, which it probably is, with no overdates.

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:

• 1838-Z ½ real
• 1839-G^A ½ real
• 1839-M^O ½ real
• 1839-G^A real
• 1839-G^O real
• 1839-Z^S real
• 1839-G^O 2 reales
• 1839-Z^S 2 reales
• 1839-G^O 4 reales
• 1839-Z^S 4 reales
• 1839-C^A 8 reales
• 1839-D^O 8 reales
• 1839-G^A JG 8 reales
• 1839-G^A MC 8 reales
• 1839-G^O 8 reales
• 1839-M^O 8 reales
• 1839-P^I 8 reales
• 1839-Z^S 8 reales
• 1839-M^O ½ escudo
• 1839-G^A 2 escudos
• 1839-G^O 4 escudos
• 1839-D^O 8 escudos
• 1839-G^O 8 escudos
• 1840-Z ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1839
• return to Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905