Mexico 1861-Zs VL 1/2 real

Stack's Bowers November 2023 Collector's Choice sale, lot 71007

This specimen was lot 71007 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2023), where it sold for $100. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. 1/2 Real, 1861-Zs VL. Zacatecas Mint. PCGS AU-50. Inverted A for V. Only limitedly circulated, this impressive example displays good retained appeal and soft shimmering brilliance." Zacatecas and Guanajuato were the two mints that made a serious effort to produce minor coinage for local use; the other mints preferred to concentrate on striking eight reales for export. Zacatecas half reales are known for 1826-63 and 1869 and this is a common date. Assayer VL served 1859-64. An 1861/0 overdate is reported.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

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

Catalog reference: KM-370.11.

Source:

• Bailey, Don and Lois, Whitman Encyclopedia of Mexican Money, Volume 1, An Illustrated History of Mexican Coins and Currency, Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2014.
• 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, 1801-1900, 9th 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, November 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

Link to:

• 1860-M^O FH ½ real
• 1860-C ½ real
• 1860-Z^S ½ real
• Jalisco 1861 1/16 real
• Jalisco 1861 1/8 real
• Tancitaro 1861 1/8 real
• Sinaloa 1861 ¼ real
• Sinaloa 1861 pattern ¼ real
• Sonora 1861 ¼ real
• 1861-M^O ¼ real
• 1861-C ½ real
• 1861-D^O ½ real
• 1861-G^A ½ real
• 1861-M^O ½ real
• 1861-C real
• 1861-M^O real
• 1861-Z^S real
• 1861-C 2 reales
• 1861-M^O 2 reales
• 1861-G^O 4 reales
• 1861-H^O 4 reales
• 1861-M^O 4 reales
• 1861-O 4 reales
• 1861-Z^S 4 reales
• 1861-C CE 8 reales
• 1861-C PV 8 reales
• 1861-C^A 8 reales
• 1861-D^O 8 reales
• 1861-G^O 8 reales
• 1861-H^O 8 reales
• 1861-M^O CH 8 reales
• 1861-M^O TH 8 reales
• 1861-O 8 reales
• 1861-O^A 8 reales
• 1861-P^I PS 8 reales
• 1861-P^I RO 8 reales
• 1861-Z^S 8 reales
• 1861-D^O ½ escudo
• 1861-G^A ½ escudo
• 1861-G^O ½ escudo
• 1861-M^O ½ escudo
• 1861-D^O escudo
• 1861-M^O escudo
• 1861-G^A 2 escudos
• 1861-M^O 2 escudos
• 1861-M^O 4 escudos
• 1861-C 8 escudos
• 1861-D^O 8 escudos
• 1861-G^A 8 escudos
• 1861-G^O 8 escudos
• 1861-O 8 escudos
• 1861-Z^S 8 escudos
• 1862-M^O ½ real
• 1862-Z^S ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1861
• return to Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905