Municipal and hacienda tokens of Mexico
Municipal and hacienda tokens are, as a rule, crudely made and poorly documented. The central government denounced them repeatedly as they were used to cheat the poor but could do little to prevent their circulation. The following depict some better preserved examples.
Aguascalientes, Baja California Norte
This specimen was lot 1794 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $48. The catalog description[1] noted, "Aguascalientes, Mexico, copper token, no date (ca. 1850), Baja California Norte. Rulau-Agu11. 4.63 grams. Obverse: MESQUITE. flanked by stars above mesquite tree; reverse: eight-petaled rosette at center; smooth edge. Dark brown toned VF with crude rims (as made)."
Campeche, Santa Maria de Oloron
This specimen was lot 1796 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $66. The catalog description[1] noted, "Campeche, Mexico, nickel 1 real hacienda token, 1886 date, Santa Maria de Oloron, Carmen. Rulau-Cam61. 2.85 grams. Obverse: SANTA MARIA DE O. above, B.A & C. at center above ornamentation, date 1886 with stars flanking it; reverse: 1 / UN REAL at center with ornamentation below, laurel encircling; smooth edge. XF with surface hairlines."
Campeche, H.J.M. de Palizada
This specimen was lot 1121 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Campeche, Mexico, bronze 1/4 real token, 1875, H.J.M. de Palizada, NGC VF 25 BN, ex-Norweb (stated on label). Rulau-Cam46; Grove-1793. 24.5 mm. Obverse with HJM / DE / (P)ALIZAD(A); reverse with 1/4 inside wreath above date 1875. Crude strike, the denomination side off-center and incomplete but the other side clear, some black oxidation (mostly on denomination side), desirable pedigree. Pedigreed to the Norweb collection. NGC #5850336-002."
Jalisco, Hacienda del Carmen
This specimen was lot 1120 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $108. The catalog description[1] noted, "Jalisco, Mexico, bronze token, no denomination, H.A., 1867, Hacienda del Carmen. Rulau-unl; Eklund-unl; Grove-unl. 2.05 grams; 22 mm. Obverse with cursive "Carmen" above double yoke; reverse with H.A. inside overarching wreath above date 1867. Light brown color with dark, contrasting sediment around details."
Jalisco, Apoloni Ochoa
This specimen was lot 1123 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "Jalisco, Mexico, bronze 2 almudes token, Apoloni Ochoa, ca. 1890. Rulau-Jal49; Eklund-164. 5.44 grams; 24.5 mm. Obverse with CONTLA (with backwards N) between rows of dots with clusters of agave(?) leaves above and below; reverse with .A.O (for Apoloni Ochoa) above 2 within wreath of same leaves. Bold strike, AXF, the reverse off-center, light brown color throughout."
Merida, Rancha Buena Vista
This specimen was lot 1795 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $108. The catalog description[1] noted, "Merida, Mexico, copper 1 real token, 1868, Rancha Buena Vista. Rulau-Yuc77. 1.67 grams. Obverse: 1. / REAL at center, RANCHA BUENA VISTA encircling; reverse: J.R. / 1868. at center; smooth edge. Lightly handled AU with dark red toning, hints of bright copper red luster around the legends."
Michoacan, Hacienda San Rafael
This specimen was lot 1118 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $120. The catalog description[1] noted, "Michoacan, Mexico, bronze 1/4 real token, 1847, Hacienda San Rafael, rare. Rulau-unl; Grove-435. 8.49 grams; 24 mm. Obverse with YC monogram (name unknown) inside legend HACIENDA DE SAN RAFAEL; reverse with denomination 1/4 within wreath, date 1847. at top. Well-struck XF, even chocolate-brown color throughout."
Michoacan, Hacienda de Buena Vista
This specimen was lot 1119 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $420. The catalog description[1] noted, "Michoacan, Mexico, bronze 1 almud token, 1855, Hacienda de Buena Vista, Raciones de Maiz, rare. Rulau-Mic64; Eklund-75; Grove-unl. 8.47 grams; 29.5 mm. Obverse with JFV monogram (for Jose Francisco Velarde) within HACIENDA / DE / BUENAVISTA; reverse with 1855 date in circle within legend RACIONES DE MAIZ / VALE POR 1 ALMUD. Full details but slightly crude (especially the rims), with traces of flipover double-strike on both sides, light brown color. The obverse is similar to Grove-431 but the reverse is more like Grove-974 but with different legend."
Michoacan, Hacienda de Santa Efigenia
This specimen was lot 1117 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "Michoacan, Mexico, bronze 1/4 real token, 1846, Hacienda de Santa Efigenia, rare. Rulau-Mic110; Eklund-541; Grove-439. 7.54 grams; 24.5 mm. Obverse with JA monogram (for Jose Aspero) superimposed over arrow pointing right inside legend HACIENDA DE SA. EFIGENIA; reverse with balance scale held by hand pointing left above denomination 1/4 and date 1846-star. Dark VF with much verdigris, weakly struck date."
Veracruz, Hacienda de Tuxpango
This specimen was lot 73438 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2024), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[2] noted, "MEXICO. Veracruz. Hacienda de Tuxpango. Copper 10 Centavos Token, ND (ca. 1890). PCGS MS-65. Rulau-Ver-25; Grove-1637. Superbly preserved with significant red in the fields and a charming eagle and snake design on the reverse."
Yucatan, San Pedro Chimay
This specimen was lot 1798 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $7.20. The catalog description[1] noted, "Yucatan, Mexico, incuse nickel token, San Pedro Chimay, Jose Maria Castro, 1889. Rulau-Yuc71. 3.57 grams. Obverse: M in star at center, JOSE MARIA CASTRO above, date 1889 below; reverse: flower at center, SAN PEDRO CHIMAY above, YUCATAN below; smooth edge. Bright AU with hole at top."
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Rulau, Russell, Latin American Tokens, 2nd Ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2000.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction 28, featuring the Dr. Peter Jones and John O'Brien collections, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, October 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the S.P. Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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