SKH-1c-1945D-01 Spiked Head

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with Cohen Index 45D-71-B, this spiked head variety appears on the 1945-D Lincoln Wheat Cent struck at the Denver Mint. The 1945-D holds historical significance as the final year cents were produced using shell casing brass, a wartime measure adopted in 1944 when the Mint recycled spent ammunition casings to conserve copper. Spiked head varieties occur when a die crack develops around Lincoln's portrait, typically extending upward and creating a spike-like projection on struck coins. The crack channels metal into the recessed line, producing a raised spike that varies in prominence depending on width and depth. Cohen Index references are part of the specialized cataloging system for Lincoln Cent die varieties, providing cross-identification alongside the Cuds on Coins registry. Denver Mint wartime production was substantial, and the recycled brass composition may have introduced metallurgical differences affecting die wear patterns compared to the standard copper alloy used before and after the war years.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index 45D-71-B. 01/29/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References