SKH-1c-1950-06 Spike Head

Description

Sixth documented spiked head variety on the 1950 proof Lincoln Wheat Cent, SKH-1c-1950-06 displays the characteristic raised spike projecting from Lincoln's head caused by a die gouge or die crack that channels metal upward during the striking process. Spiked head varieties are among the most visually distinctive die anomalies on Lincoln Cents because the spike creates an immediately noticeable projection from the portrait that collectors can often identify without magnification. The 1950 proof issue comes from a period when the Philadelphia Mint was producing proof sets in relatively modest quantities — approximately 51,386 proof sets that year — making any die variety on these coins inherently scarcer than their circulating counterparts. Cross-referenced to the Cohen Index as 50-64, with an additional notation of "Cohen Index Not Listed" dated 03/18/2016, this dual reference suggests the variety may have been reclassified or that different editions of the Cohen catalog treat it differently. The proof-only status means this variety exists solely on specimens with mirror fields and frosted devices, allowing the spike to contrast sharply against the reflective proof surface. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, which maintains records for spiked heads alongside cuds, BIEs, and other die break varieties, this proof spiked head represents a collecting opportunity at the intersection of proof coin and die variety specialization.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index 50-64. 03/18/2016. Cross reference number: Cohen Index Not Listed. 03/18/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References