SKH-1c-1950-20 Spike Head

Description

Cataloged as SKH-1c-1950-20 in the Cuds on Coins spiked head registry, this 1950 proof Lincoln Wheat Cent exhibits a die crack that produced a raised spike projecting from Lincoln's head. Spiked head varieties occur when a die crack propagates through the portrait area, allowing metal to flow into the fissure during striking and creating a distinctive fin or spike extending from the president's profile. On proof strikings, these anomalies are often more sharply defined than on business strikes due to the higher striking pressure and polished planchet surfaces that characterize proof production. No Cohen Index number has been assigned to this variety. As a proof issue, this coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing the mirror-like fields and frosted design elements that define the format. The 1950 proof Lincoln Wheat Cent was produced during the final decade of Victor David Brenner's wheat ears reverse design, which would be replaced by Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse in 1959. Spiked head varieties on proof cents attract collectors who value the intersection of die failure documentation with the superior surface quality that makes proof specimens ideal for studying fine die characteristics under magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis A
• Cross reference number: Cohen not listed. 12/08/2019.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References