Mexico 1850-Do RM 1/2 real

Ponterio sale 159, lot 8125

photo courtesy Ponterio & Associates

The type was struck at Durango 1832-69, with assayer RM listed for 1832-48. This specimen was lot 8125 in Ponterio sale 159 (Baltimore, March 2011), where it sold for $575. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. Durango. 1/2 Real, 1850-DoRM. Extremely RARE. FINE-VERY FINE." The SCWC notes JMR (José Maria Ramirez) was supposed to be assayer for 1849-52 so this die with assayer RM may have used in error, accounting for its rarity. This specimen appears to be struck from badly eroded dies, perhaps salvaged from a prior year and redated, a common practice.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

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

Catalog reference: KM 370.3.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Buttrey, T. V., and Clyde Hubbard, A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, 1822 to date, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1992.
• ^[1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 159: the March 2011 Baltimore Auction, featuring the Len Novotny collection, Irvine, CA: Stack's-Bowers & Ponterio, 2011.

Links to:

• 1842-D ½ real
• 1850-M^O 1/8 real
• 1850-G^O ¼ real
• 1850-M^O ¼ real
• 1850-G^A ½ real
• 1850-G^O ½ real
• 1850-M^O ½ real
• 1850-C CE real
• 1850-G^A real
• 1850-GC real
• 1850-P^I real
• 1850-Z^S real
• 1850-GC 2 reales
• 1850-M^O 2 reales
• 1850-GC 4 reales
• 1850-G^O 4 reales
• 1850-M^O 4 reales
• 1850-P^I 4 reales
• 1850-Z^S 4 reales
• 1850-C 8 reales
• 1850-C^A 8 reales
• 1850-D^O 8 reales
• 1850-GC 8 reales
• 1850-G^O 8 reales
• 1850-M^O 8 reales
• 1850-P^I 8 reales
• 1850-Z^S 8 reales
• 1850-D^O ½ escudo
• 1850-M^O ½ escudo
• 1850-D^O escudo
• 1850-G^A 2 escudos
• 1850-C 8 escudos
• 1850-C^A 8 escudos
• 1850-D^O 8 escudos
• 1850-G^A 8 escudos
• 1850-GC 8 escudos
• 1850-G^O 8 escudos
• 1850-M^O 8 escudos
• 1851-G^A ½ real
• 1851-GC ½ real
• 1851-G^O ½ real
• 1851-M^O ½ real
• 1851-Z ½ real
• 1852-Do ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1850
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