I haven't bought or viewed any interesting coins in a few months, so tonight I pulled out my New Orleans Morgan set and some other slabbed Morgans to satisfy my craving. I noticed that I had most likely undergraded this 1881 O the first few times around. I previously had it locked in at a 64, but after comparison with other coins that I've had certified, I beleive this is at least a 65 if not a 66. Here she is: Your opinions are appreciated, thanks!
MS64 is a suitable grade. Even though the cheek is relatively clean, that left-obverse field shows some decent bag marks, along with that scuff at 7 o' clock on the reverse. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if I saw it in a 65 holder by a less-reputable TPG, but especially with what's going on at the rim at 4 o' clock on the reverse, I would be disappointed if PCGS gave it anything higher than 64+ -Brian
I wouldn't be shocked at all if it MS-65 grade, but I think the high end of MS-64 is correct. We will call it a MS-64.87 to really get it accurate.
IMO the reverse would probably grade 65 maybe even 66. No discernable bag marks/blemishes on the eagle's breast which is supposedly the most noticable and common area for them to appear that would subtract points. The black mark/tone is a bit distracting but probably wouldn't hurt the grade. The obverse though is tougher. Are the pics under magnification? Because technically MS65 and on up are supposed to have fewer and fewer major and distracting bag marks and those marks should be harder and harder to see with the naked eye and even a simple 2X magnifying glass (and then you need higher mag. of 5X and 10X for high 66 and 67 levels) as you go up the scale. I see serious bag marks above the eye, the cheek under the n shaped blemish, the corner of the mouth, one on the throat and one in the field to the left of the throat. If you can see these same marks with your eye alone or with a simple magnifying glass then chances are the graders would also. If that's the case you are looking MS64 as an overall grade and maybe a MS64+. Otherwise if they are hard to tell you could get a MS65. One thing I will also mention is have you had a dealer look at the coin? Usually the O on the rev. is fat and evenly rounded. This one looks more oval shaped and tilted a bit counter clockwise I would investigate the possibility that you have an O/O repunched mint mark as the O just doesn't look right to me in the above pic.
It's not an RPM variety - That's just the mintmark style for that year. ... And I also believe a little unintentional camera-shaking obscured ("lopsided") the mintmark in the OP's last photo. -Brian
It does look to be at least a MS64. While the reverse is very clean the obverse has one too many bag marks. Overall though its a very good looking coin.
There's no doubt in my mind that it's authentic, although I won't reveal where I got it. The pic was taken with an IPhone 4S with the HDR option on. I've seen hundreds of O mint Morgans of all years and conditions and the O mintmark can vary a helluva lot even in the same year.
I would say it is a high-end 64, maybe a 64+. The reverse is much higher--probably 66ish, but there are too many bag marks for much higher than a 64. I agree with MS 64+, and NOT proof like. http://www.pcgs.com/photograde/#/Morgan/Grades
Wow I guess it's dumb luck all my orleans mint morgans are fairly straight, what are the odds of that but it's fact. I never saw one tilted that much until now. Also I never said it was fake just that the mint mark didn't look right compared to O mint morgans of various years I've owned. I was chalking it up to an O/O or another strike issue; like deterioration, or that the die filled a bit and caused the shape to be off not it being counterfieted or post mint added.