Mexico Guanajuato 1/8 and 1/4 Real 1856 and 1857

Hello IVDOLL -- The catalogs list your piece as a 1/4 real from the Republic of Mexico. The inscription 'EST.LIB.DE.GUANAXUATO' or 'ESTADO LIBRE DE GUANAJUATO' identifies it as from the Mexican state of Guanajuato. There was also a 1/8 real with the same pattern, only smaller. Here are the diameters of these old-and-interesting pieces:

1/8 REAL (OCTAVO): 29 mm diameter struck in brass
1/4 REAL (QUARTO or QUARTILLA): 32 mm diameter struck in copper

There are plenty of these coins in well worn condition. The trick is to find one in well preserved condition. That's when the numismatic (coin collector) value goes way up.

1/8 REAL:
worn: $10 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $50
well preserved: $200

1/4 REAL:
worn: $12
average circulated: $55
well preserved: $225

The quartilla in our picture comes from Ponterio & Associates (see Stack's Bowers) where it sold for $75 US dollars in a 2010 auction.

Remember to read our Important Terminology page found at the top left in order to properly interpret the catalog values used on this page.
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