Exhibit - Morgan Dollar (Battle Creek) - 1886 - March 2009 - Lehigh96

The Battle Creek Collection

The Battle Creek Collection of Morgan Dollars was a group of 10 sealed bags of Morgan Dollars (10,000 coins). There were (2) 1885 bags, (2) 1886 bags, and (6) 1887 bags. Of the 10,000 coins submitted, 1,606 of the coins displayed special attributes that earned NGC's coveted star designation for exceptional eye appeal. Only these coins were given the Battle Creek pedigree which is derived from the geographical origins of the coins. Of the 1,606 coins bearing the Battle Creek pedigree, 247 of them graded below MS63 and are encapsulated with the term Brilliant Uncirculated instead of a numerical grade. To read the complete press release by NGC about the Battle Creek Collection, click on the following link.

http://www.collectors-society.com/news/ViewArticle.aspx?IDArticle=272
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The Heritage Photos​

I purchased this coin in the 2008 February Long Beach Sale. Heritage described the lot as follows: 1886 $1 MS65 NGC. Ex: Battle Creek Collection. The shining reverse of this well-defined Gem shows subtle bands of gold-orange and aquamarine at the lower and left reverse. The obverse has crazy-quilt blue-green, lemon-gold, violet, and magenta-rose patina. This description is entirely accurate but you would never know it from the Heritage photos. I think that Heritage has so many coins to image that they just don't have the time to take multiple shots of a coin that is obviously difficult to photograph. These are the two photos of the obverse offered by Heritage.





Don't ask me what they were trying to accomplish with that second photo as it looks nothing like the actual coin. This is an interesting side note. When browsing the Heritage Signature sales, you will find these closeup photos on some of the lots. In my experience, these photos are hit or miss with regards to accuracy of the actual appearance of the coin. In this particular case, it was a big miss.

The Superior Photo
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Once I received the coin in the mail, I was ecstatic to find a gorgeous rainbow toned Morgan Dollar that did not look like either photo taken by Heritage. I had access to other photos taken during the original sale of the Battle Creek Collection and had a pretty good idea that the coin was going to much more impressive in hand than the very unflattering Heritage photos suggested. Here is a photo from the original Superior Galleries Pre Long Beach Auction in September 2005.

The Lehigh Photos
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I immediately decided to attempt to image this deeply toned gem. I thought it would be extremely difficult, but after only a few attempts, I was able to muster this result.



While this photo is very good and shows the colors very well, it does not really give you a true sense of the power of the coin. The toning on this coin is so interwoven and vibrant, it just stuns you. This photo really lacks the adequate detail of the toning pattern to convey that emotion to the viewer. Lately, I have been experimenting with some new photographic techniques and had incredible success imaging my Jefferson Nickels. I decided to see if I could take a photos of this coin that could accurately display the color (including the intricacies of the toning pattern) along with the surfaces and luster of this magnificent Dollar. This is the result on my first attempt of both the obverse and reverse.

The New Lehigh Photos
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Now here is my question to the Cointalk community. Did I succeed in my attempt to do this coin justice? When you read the Heritage description and view these photos, do you feel as though you have an accurate depiction of what this coin would look like in hand? After all, that is all I really want in a coin photograph. Please feel free to give me your comments of both the coin and the photos. I will now leave you with a parting shot of both sides of this Battle Creek Morgan.



:kewl:

 

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Great write up and photography. How did those coins get to the Battle Creek area in mint bags? You need a movie of this coin. I'll give you space if you want to store it.

Ruben

 

Ruben,

Are you going to add this exhibit to the museum thread? Each bag had a supplementary tag to the mint tag from the Detriot Branch of the Chicago Federal Reserve dated in the 20's. I guess that area of the country was supplied by the Philadelphia mint back then. I don't know how to make a movie and would not know what to include.

I think someone should write a book about the Battle Creek Collection. With big color photos, that would be super cool.

 

Yes - it took me weeks to get to Cheryls I'm glad you appreciate it! But I'm still a private non-profit organization :bigeyes:

Your Camera might have a movie ability built right into it. Mine does. With a 12 gig SDS card it doesn't make a bad Video Recorder.

Ruben

 

Beautiful coin Lehigh :bow:. I think your pics definitely do the coin justice, and there so much better than the Heritage photos. That coin puts my 86' to shame .

 

Excellent pic's! Much better that the former two auction pic's.
Yours show Color and Luster together.

Very Nice!

 

Thank you, I appreciate it. I currently have 8 Battle Creek Collection Morgan Dollars. I am in the process of imaging all of them. Some are extremely difficult to capture, even harder than this one. As soon as I have them done I will post them along with either the seller's photos or my original photos.

 

Cool

Great thread

 

I'll be looking foward to those, are all 8 stars too?

 

any chance of a movie? If you bring it to me we can shoot it here.

Ruben

 

Yes, every Battle Creek Collection coin was awarded a star. Here is a preview of the Pink Eye Dollar.



:kewl:

 

Very nice, I really like the toning right around the date :thumb:.

 

Another updated photo:

 

Got it this time Paul :thumb:
Beautiful!
At first the reverse was lacking big time, just too bright, obverse was a little bright too, now it is perfect. Way to go.

 

Great coin and Awesome pictures! what is on the cheek joining the nose? is it a dash? VAM of some sort? Thanks

 

Bagmark!

 

agreed - definite bagmark