1950 Lincoln Wheat Cent - SKH-1c-1950-19 Spiked Head

Description

Nineteenth in the spiked head census for the 1950 Philadelphia Lincoln wheat cent, SKH-1c-1950-19 documents a die crack variety at the midpoint of the twentieth century. While the cent faced no such mintage rarity, the 19th documented spiked head for this single date shows how many of the year's obverse dies cracked into the bust. Spiked heads form when a crack opens in the obverse die and runs from the rim into Lincoln's bust. Metal fills the crack during striking, so subsequently struck coins show a raised spike extending from or near the head. Each cataloged spiked head variety has a unique spike position, orientation, and size, set by the path its crack took across the die. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, SKH-1c-1950-19 contributes to a census of cracked obverse dies that can be compared across dates and mints. Collectors should examine Lincoln's head under 10-15x magnification, comparing any raised projection against the diagnostic position documented for this specific nineteenth variety to distinguish it from other spiked heads on the same date.

Cross References

• Cross reference number: none. 09/16/2018.

External References