Great Falls Collection vs Battle Creek Collection (battle of pedigrees sequel)

As an ode to @Lehigh96 I present the sequel to the battle of pedigrees.
Over 15 years ago, Lehigh did a cool competition where he compared toned Morgans from the Battle Creek and Great Falls Collections (see links below; there is also a 3rd link to some posts about the Great Falls Collection). I did not plan to recreate his project (nor is this very close) but I did happen to pick up one Morgan from each pedigree this year. The Battle Creek was purchased earlier in the year and then I stumbled onto the Great Falls a few days ago via an eBay search. I will include my notes from the top 10 thread and the pictures.

Please take a look at the two coins and vote for your favorite pedigree; please add any comments you may have, including if you picked based on color or some other factor.

Here are the links to some entertaining reading plus some pretty coins:

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an...-wars-part-1-a-battle-of-the-pedigrees.41598/

https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=703

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/great-falls-collection.85412/


And here are the coins for the sequel:

1887 Morgan Silver Dollar NGC MS-64 ★ (Battle Creek Collection)

....this Morgan I did not win when it came up in 2023; in 2024 I was determined to get it and was successful (for a little less than it brought the first time!). There was some controversy on Instagram concerning if this coin was truly a Battle Creek but that did not bother me. I liked it and am glad to have it.




1885-O Morgan Silver Dollar NGC MS-63 ★ (Great Falls Collection)

...this Morgan was picked up after my top 10 list and it was just too nice not to include! An eBay find I wasn't planning on, but after staring at it and debating, I figured I should buy it. Good thing that I did because the colors are fantastic and it's another collection pedigree to add to my Battle Creek plus Binion.

 

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The Battle creek is my favorite that that's a wonderful two-sided toner.

 

This is really tough. When I sold off my Morgan Dollar collection, I only kept one coin from each pedigree.

1886 Morgan Dollar NGC MS64* Battle Creek (photo courtesy Anaconda Rare Coins)



I dubbed this coin the pink eye dollar and it has been my avatar on the NGC forum for many years. I purchased it in 2008 from Anaconda Rare Coins (Adrian & Brandon) for $612. To date, I still haven't found a toned Morgan that I like more. That said, this coin is a mid level coin in the Battle Creek hoard.

1881-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS64* Great Falls Collection



You wouldn't know it from my photo, but this coin is absolutely spectacular with semi PL surfaces on the obverse that makes the color look liquid. Also purchased from ARC for an exorbitant sum of $825.

As to which pedigree I prefer, that is so hard. If it were down to which one of these two coins I would sell first, I would definitely keep the pink eye dollar. The nicest Great Falls I ever owned was an 1881-S MS67 with deep blue-green toning on the obverse. I have since lost the photos, but here is a link to the Heritage auction listing.


1881-S $1 MS67 NGC. The booming luster and exceptional detail are characteristic of this issue, but what sets the present piece apart is the rich plum, cerulean, and orange-gold patina that graces the obverse. The brilliant reverse is a feature of many coins in this collection.
From The Great Falls Collection




I have never seen any of the higher graded Battle Creeks in hand, but I imaging that if I had, perhaps I would have chosen the Battle Creek pedigree. As it stands, I am going with the Great Falls Collection. They had a look that was much more distinctive and I was an ardent collector who has seen dozens of them.

I would like to thank @ddddd for creating this thread and allowing me to take a stroll down memory lane of my rainbow toned Morgan Dollar collection.

 

@Pickin and Grinin thanks! The two sided color made it stand out to me (although I'm perfectly fine with nice one sided toners too as I like the contrast of blast white on one side and strong color on the other).

@geekpryde thank you! That is a good comparison! It does have a "two-face" effect.

@Lehigh96 it was a pleasure to bring back your threads. I enjoyed reading them and seeing the beautiful Morgans! As far as the two you have kept, I prefer the Battle Creek (plus that was a solid price for it even back then). However, the Great Falls isn't too far behind and I know how the semi-pl surfaces of early "S" mint Morgans can really liven up the coin.

 

I've only owned one of the pedigrees and it was a Battle Creek that was a completely plum purple reverse with faint neon green highlights. I sold that coin and bought it back and then sold it again! That was a first and i don't know why I ever sold it. Regret it now. The Battle Creek collection is amazing to me.

I have a couple of Lehighs Morgans on the first page of my Morgan registry that I got from him back in 2011 or there abouts. (Wish I could have bought more!)

My favorite toned Morgan I presently own, (though neither pedigree), is this 1880-S MS-64* I picked up at the ANA in 2021. It is not my most valuable but it is the most amazing toned example I have. The reverese is overwhelmingly the teal color. Pictures can't do it justice. I don't think I'd ever sell this one.

 

@Vess1 that one looks special even from the photos and by your description, I believe it is lovely in hand!

 

4-1 in favor of Battle Creek ....any other votes?

 

Still 4-1