Zacatecas 1846 1/8 real

from the San Dimas Collection

from the San Dimas Collection

This specimen is one of a series of brass eighth reales issued 1836 and 1845-46 by the "department" of Zacatecas. It is not rare but less often seen than the "free and sovereign" state type (KM 338).

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 339, DB-910^[2].

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.
• ^[2]Bailey, Don, State & Federal Copper and Brass Coinage of Mexico, 1824-1872, Hemet, CA, 2008.

Link to:

• 1829 1/8 real
• Chihuahua 1846 1/4 real
• Zacatecas 1846 1/4 real
• 1846-G^A ½ real
• 1846-GC ½ real
• 1846-M^O ½ real
• 1846-Z^S ½ real
• 1846-GC real
• 1846-G^O real
• 1846-Z^S real
• 1846-D^O 2 reales
• 1846-GC 2 reales
• 1846-G^A 4 reales
• 1846-GC 4 reales
• 1846-G^O 4 reales
• 1846-Z^S 4 reales
• 1846-C 8 reales
• 1846-C^A 8 reales
• 1846-D^O 8 reales
• 1846-G^A 8 reales
• 1846-GC 8 reales
• 1846-G^O 8 reales
• 1846-M^O 8 reales
• 1846-Pi 8 reales
• 1846-GC ½ escudo
• 1846-M^O ½ escudo
• 1846-C escudo
• 1846-GC escudo
• 1846-M^O escudo
• 1846-C^A 8 escudos
• 1846-D^O 8 escudos
• 1846-GC 8 escudos
• 1846-G^O 8 escudos
• 1846-M^O 8 escudos
• 1852 1/8 real
• Coins and currency dated 1846
• return to Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905