SKH-1c-1950-16 Spike Head

Description

Among the cluster of spike head varieties documented on 1950 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cents, SKH-1c-1950-16 was first reported on January 20, 2018, adding to a substantial roster of die clash artifacts from this proof date. The 1950 proof cent's mintage of 51,386 sets — a modest figure by modern standards but typical for the era — means the total population of 1950 proof cents is finite and well-defined, and yet sixteen distinct spike head varieties have been identified among them. This concentration suggests that die clash incidents were not isolated anomalies but rather a recurring feature of 1950 proof cent production, possibly reflecting specific press conditions or die handling procedures in that year's proof operations. Proof production in the early 1950s took place at the Philadelphia Mint before the 1968 relocation to San Francisco, using dedicated proof presses that struck coins at lower speeds with higher pressure to achieve the characteristic mirror fields and frosted devices. Even at these controlled speeds, feed failures could occur, allowing the dies to clash and transfer reverse design elements into the obverse die. The resulting spike on Lincoln's proof portrait stands out with particular clarity against the deep, reflective proof surface. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, no independent cross-references exist for this variety. Proof Wheat Cent spike heads from the early 1950s occupy a collector niche that bridges two popular specialties — proof coin collecting and die variety attribution — attracting hobbyists from both communities.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• Cross reference number: none. 01/20/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References