San Luis Potosi 1860 1/4 real

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 41313

This specimen was lot 41313 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $384. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. San Luis Potosi. 1/4 Real, 1860. San Luis Potosi Mint. NGC AU-58. This near-Mint copper Cuartillo is among the finest extant for this issue. Exhibiting just a touch of strike weakness but nearly no circulation, it portrays highly legible detail and wholesome mocha brown surface patina. A SCARCE find in this condition, and a superlative representative of the type. From the EMO Collection." This is an example of a copper quarter real from the state of San Luis Potosi. It was struck 1828-32 and 1859-60. While the central government of Mexico reserved for itself the right to strike gold and silver, the states were permitted to strike the base metal coinage, a right which they exploited to the utmost. These coins could be minted and issued at a profit, a fact not lost on cash-strapped state governments. As these were to be quickly and cheaply made and forced upon a long-suffering populace, little effort was expended to make them nice; most survivors are poorly struck on badly prepared planchets and heavily worn. Counterfeits abounded and contributed to the abuse.

Today, state coppers are avidly collected. They are very challenging to find in nice condition and high grade examples are beginning to realize prices proportionate to their rarity.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 9-10 g, copper, 25-31 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: EMO-3137.1 (Plate coin); KM-359.

Source:

• Buttrey, T. V., and Clyde Hubbard, A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, 1822 to date, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1992.
• Bailey, Don, State & Federal Copper and Brass Coinage of Mexico, 1824-1872, Hemet, CA, 2008.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

• San Luis Potosi 1859 1/8 real
• San Luis Potosi 1859 1/4 real
• Jalisco 1860 1/16 real
• Chihuahua 1860 1/4 real
• Durango 1860 1/4 real
• 1860-M^O silver ¼ real
• 1860-C ½ real
• 1860-M^O ½ real
• 1860-Z^S ½ real
• 1860-G^A real
• 1860-Z^S real
• 1860-G^O 2 reales
• 1860-C 4 reales
• 1860-G^A 4 reales
• 1860-G^O 4 reales
• 1860-Z^S 4 reales
• 1860-C PV 8 reales
• 1860-C CE 8 reales
• 1860-C^A 8 reales
• 1860-D^O 8 reales
• 1860-G^A 8 reales
• 1860-G^O 8 reales
• 1860-M^O FH 8 reales
• 1860-M^O TH 8 reales
• 1860-O^A 8 reales
• 1860-P^I FE 8 reales
• 1860-P^I PS 8 reales
• 1860-Z^S MO 8 reales
• 1860-Z^S VL 8 reales
• 1860-C ½ escudo
• 1860-G^O ½ escudo
• 1860-M^O ½ escudo
• 1860-Z^S ½ escudo
• 1860-G^O escudo
• 1860-G^A escudo
• 1860-M^O escudo
• 1860-Z^S escudo
• 1860-G^A 2 escudos
• 1860-G^O 2 escudos
• 1860-Z^S 2 escudos
• 1860-Z^S 4 escudos
• 1860-C 8 escudos
• 1860-G^O 8 escudos
• 1860-M^O 8 escudos
• 1860-Z^S 8 escudos
• San Luis Potosi 1862 1/4 real
• Coins and currency dated 1860
• return to Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905