Zacatecas 1825 1/4 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

Stack's Bowers ANA sale, lot 41345

The first specimen is one of a series of brass quarter reales issued 1825-64 by the "free and sovereign" state of Zacatecas. It is a common date but this specimen may have been a presentation piece as fully struck, uncirculated specimens with mint luster are virtually unknown. The second specimen was lot 41345 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $14,400. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Extremely Rare Zacatecas Cuartillo Struck in Silver, MEXICO. Zacatecas. Silver 1/4 Real, 1825. Zacatecas Mint. NGC MS-61. A stunning and EXTREMELY RARE off-metal strike of the Zacatecas 1/4 Real issue. Likely a pattern issue, the piece may have been struck on a 2 Reales planchet. The artistic Cuartillo design displays beautifully on its brilliant silver surfaces. The coin is wonderfully well-preserved and free of any problems, with just a hint of tone in the fields adding to its argent beauty. An impressive and special piece. From the EMO Collection."

The Mexican constitution reserved the right to coin gold and silver to the federal government but granted the right to mint copper to the states, which right they used and abused. For some states, this was a major source of revenue as the metal content was much less than the face value. For others, it was an opportunity to thumb their noses at the central government by proclaiming their "free and sovereign" status.

Recorded mintage: unknown but probably in the millions.

Specification: brass.

Catalog reference: KM 366, DB-950^[2].

Source:

• Harper, David C. [Ed.], North American Coins & Prices, 17th Ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2007.
• Buttrey, T. V., and Clyde Hubbard, A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, 1822 to date, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1992.
• ^[2]Bailey, Don, State & Federal Copper and Brass Coinage of Mexico, 1824-1872, Hemet, CA, 2008.
• ^[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:

• Zacatecas 1824 ¼ real
• 1825-G^A ½ real
• 1825-M^O ½ real
• 1825-M^O real
• 1825-G^A 2 reales
• 1825-M^O 2 reales
• 1825-D^O 8 reales
• 1825-G^A 8 reales
• 1825-G^O 8 reales, "hook-neck"
• 1825-G^O 8 reales, upright eagle
• 1825-M^O 8 reales
• 1825-Z^S 8 reales
• 1825-G^A ½ escudo
• 1825-M^O ½ escudo
• 1825-G^A escudo
• 1825-M^O escudo
• 1825-M^O 2 escudos
• 1825-M^O 4 escudos
• 1825-M^O 8 escudos
• 1827 1/8 real
• Zacatecas 1830 ¼ real
• Coins and currency dated 1825
• return to Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905