¼ Real – State of Sinaloa
Mexico
Context
Years: 1847–1866
Country: Mexico 
Issuer: State of Sinaloa
Currency:
(1535—1897)
Demonetized: Yes
Total mintage: 7,401,000
Material
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboard363
Numista: #35068
Obverse
Reverse
Description:
Value and date encircled by oak and laurel wreaths.
Inscription:
1/4
DE REAL.
1861.
DE REAL.
1861.
Script: Latin
Edge
Milled
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1847 | — | — | ||
| 1848 | — | — | ||
| 1859 | — | — | ||
| 1861 | — | — | ||
| 1862 | — | — | ||
| 1863 | — | — | ||
| 1864 | — | — | ||
| 1865 | — | — | ||
| 1866 | — | 7,401,000 |
Historical background
In 1847, the State of Sinaloa, like much of Mexico, was grappling with profound monetary instability exacerbated by the ongoing Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The national treasury was depleted, and the federal government's ability to regulate currency was severely weakened. This vacuum led to a chaotic proliferation of circulating mediums, including a mix of officially minted silver coins (pesos and reales), foreign coins (especially Spanish and U.S.), and a flood of low-quality copper coins from various Mexican states and private issuers. The result was a system where the intrinsic value of a coin—its silver or copper content—often mattered more than its stamped denomination, causing confusion and hindering commerce.
Locally, Sinaloa's economy, heavily reliant on mining and agriculture, suffered from disrupted trade routes and the direct impact of the war. The port of Mazatlán, a key commercial hub, had been blockaded and then occupied by U.S. naval forces in late 1847, severing vital maritime trade and further isolating the region from national and international markets. This disruption made it difficult to obtain sound currency and increased reliance on barter and whatever coinage was physically present, much of it heavily debased. Merchants and hacienda owners often had to act as local bankers, issuing their own credit notes (vales) to facilitate transactions, adding another layer of informal and unreliable currency to the mix.
Ultimately, the currency situation in Sinaloa in 1847 was a microcosm of a nation in crisis: a fragmented monetary landscape defined by scarcity of trustworthy specie, the circulation of multiple depreciated coins, and the reliance on localized, improvised solutions. This financial disarray mirrored the political and military turmoil of the period, undermining economic recovery and daily life. The instability would persist until after the war's conclusion with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, after which a long and difficult process of national and monetary reconstruction could begin.
Locally, Sinaloa's economy, heavily reliant on mining and agriculture, suffered from disrupted trade routes and the direct impact of the war. The port of Mazatlán, a key commercial hub, had been blockaded and then occupied by U.S. naval forces in late 1847, severing vital maritime trade and further isolating the region from national and international markets. This disruption made it difficult to obtain sound currency and increased reliance on barter and whatever coinage was physically present, much of it heavily debased. Merchants and hacienda owners often had to act as local bankers, issuing their own credit notes (vales) to facilitate transactions, adding another layer of informal and unreliable currency to the mix.
Ultimately, the currency situation in Sinaloa in 1847 was a microcosm of a nation in crisis: a fragmented monetary landscape defined by scarcity of trustworthy specie, the circulation of multiple depreciated coins, and the reliance on localized, improvised solutions. This financial disarray mirrored the political and military turmoil of the period, undermining economic recovery and daily life. The instability would persist until after the war's conclusion with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, after which a long and difficult process of national and monetary reconstruction could begin.
⭐ Somewhat Rare