SKH-1c-1944D-01 Spiked Head

Description

Denver Mint Lincoln Cents of 1944 were struck on shell casing brass — recycled spent ammunition cartridge cases that gave these wartime cents a subtly different color and metallurgical character compared to standard pre-war bronze. SKH-1c-1944D-01, cataloged as Cohen Index 44D-61, documents a spiked head die crack on one of these recycled-brass cents. The raised spike extends from Lincoln's head where a progressive die crack opened a channel for metal to flow upward under striking pressure. Denver was one of three facilities producing cents in 1944 alongside Philadelphia and San Francisco, all using the same recycled brass mandated by wartime copper conservation. Cohen 44D-61 places this variety within the systematic catalog that distinguishes it from other spiked head dies for the same date and mint. The 1944-D is accessible due to high mintage, though locating this specific die variety still requires careful examination of individual specimens under magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index 44D-61. 03/22/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References