SKH-1c-1952D-01 Spiked Head

Description

First documented spiked head variety on the 1952 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, this specimen is cross-referenced as Cohen Index 52D-61 (dated 03/22/2016) in addition to its Cuds on Coins catalog entry (dated 08/22/2025). The Cohen Index reference connects this variety to the broader die variety numbering system used for Lincoln Cents, while the Cuds on Coins cataloging documents it within the specialized spiked head taxonomy. Spiked heads form when a die crack or die gouge develops at or near Lincoln's head on the obverse die, creating a channel that fills with metal during striking and produces a raised spike or horn projecting from the portrait. The resulting protrusion gives the variety its descriptive name and creates one of the most visually striking minor die varieties found on Lincoln Cents. The 1952-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint with a mintage of approximately 746.1 million coins, one of the higher Denver mintages for the Wheat Cent series. Struck during the post-war economic boom when demand for circulating coinage was robust, the 1952-D cent belongs to the later years of Victor David Brenner's Wheat Ears reverse, which would continue through 1958. The dual cross-referencing between Cohen Index and Cuds on Coins provides multiple identification pathways for collectors seeking to authenticate this variety.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference: none. 08/22/2025. Cross reference number: Cohen Index 52D-61. 03/22/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References