1886 Mexico Silver 8 Reales NGC MS64+ – Zacatecas Zs-JS, Republic Cap & Rays Type Coin

1886 Mexico Silver 8 Reales NGC MS64+ – Zacatecas Zs-JS, Republic Cap & Rays Type Coin

Offered here is a Republic of Mexico 8 Reales dated 1886, struck at the Zacatecas mint with the Zs mintmark and JS assayer initials, certified NGC MS64+. This coin is a classic late-19th century Mexican “dollar” in high-end Mint State, encapsulated and authenticated by NGC, one of the major third-party grading services, ensuring the coin’s genuineness and accurately recorded grade.

Struck in silver of .903 fineness, this crown-sized piece weighs approximately 27.07 g, with an actual silver weight of about 0.7859 troy ounce and a diameter around 38.9 mm, matching the standard specifications for the type.

Historical Significance

The 1886 Zs-JS 8 Reales belongs to the long-running Mexican Republican “cap and rays” series, struck at Zacatecas from the 1820s through the 1890s. By this date, Mexico was under the Porfirio Díaz regime, a period of modernization and expanding international trade.

The 8 Reales served as a widely accepted trade coin, essentially the Mexican dollar, continuing the tradition of the Spanish “piece of eight” that had dominated world commerce in earlier centuries. These late Republican issues helped bridge the transition from traditional reales to fully decimal peso coinage, making an 1886 example a tangible link between colonial-era currency standards and modern monetary systems.

The assayer “JS” is recorded on Zacatecas 8 Reales for the years 1876–1886, and the 1886 Zs-JS variety is listed with a mintage of about 5,303,000 pieces, providing collectors with a date that is collectible yet historic, especially appealing in certified Mint State.

Design & Features

Obverse:

• National arms of Mexico: a Mexican eagle facing left, perched on a cactus, grasping a snake in its beak and talon.

• Surrounded by a laurel and oak wreath, with the legend “REPUBLICA MEXICANA” along the rim.

Reverse:

• Iconic “cap and rays” motif: a radiant liberty cap inscribed “LIBERTAD”, with bold rays streaming outward.

• Denomination and mint details arranged around:

  • “8 R” for 8 Reales

  • “Zs” mintmark for Zacatecas

  • “JS” assayer initials

  • Date “1886” at the lower rim.

The design is a hallmark of Mexican numismatics and one of the most recognizable motifs in 19th-century silver coinage worldwide. The large, crown-sized flan and bold devices make this type especially attractive in Mint State, where the intricate eagle feathers and radial lines of the cap and rays are fully displayed.

Remarkable Denomination

The 8 Reales denomination is historically significant as the direct continuation of the Spanish 8 Reales “piece of eight”, which had functioned as a de facto world currency and the model for many later national dollars.

By 1886, Mexico’s 8 Reales still followed the classic standard of roughly 27.07 g at .903 fine silver, giving it a substantial intrinsic silver content comparable to contemporary trade dollars. For collectors, this coin is not just a unit of account, but a physical representation of the era’s global silver standard and international trade system.

Catalog & References

• Standard Catalog of World Coins / Krause:

  • KM# 377.13 – Mexico Republic 8 Reales, Zacatecas (Zs), assayer JS, 1886.

• Specialized Reference:

  • DP-Zs71 attribution for the Zacatecas 1886 Zs-JS variety, as cited in major auction references.

These catalog numbers make the piece easy to cross-reference in world coin guides and auction archives.

Collector’s Value

This NGC MS64+ 1886 Zs-JS 8 Reales offers an excellent blend of history, silver content, and eye-appeal in a grade that stands well above the typical circulated examples. As a high-end Mint State cap-and-rays type from Zacatecas, it fits perfectly into collections of Mexican crowns, 19th-century trade coinage, world “dollar” types, or advanced 8 Reales date/mint sets. The combination of a popular design, crown-size presence, strong catalog pedigree (KM#377.13, DP-Zs71), and trusted NGC certification makes this an especially attractive piece to add to any serious world coin cabinet.