SKH-10c-1953D-02 Spiked Head

Description

Applying the spiked head phenomenon to the ten-cent denomination, SKH-10c-1953D-02 documents the second such die failure identified on the 1953-D Roosevelt dime by the Cuds on Coins attribution service. John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt portrait, adapted from a profile sketch and refined through multiple sculptural iterations, positions the president's head with the top of the skull adjacent to the rim — the same vulnerable geometry that generates spiked heads on Lincoln cents. The die crack propagates from the rim through the highest point of Roosevelt's head, transferring a raised spike or fin onto every dime struck after the fracture occurs. Denver produced approximately 136.43 million dimes in 1953, a solid mid-century output that consumed dozens of obverse dies across the production year. The 90% silver composition of pre-1965 Roosevelt dimes meant each planchet was softer than modern clad issues, but the striking pressures required to fully bring up Sinnock's portrait detail still imposed substantial stress on the dies. The "02" designation confirms at least two separate obverse dies developed spiked head cracks during 1953-D production, suggesting this was not an isolated event but rather a recurring consequence of the die geometry and production demands. Unlike Lincoln cents where spiked heads are relatively common across dozens of dates, Roosevelt dime spiked heads are less frequently cataloged, making each documented example more noteworthy within the series. Collectors should examine the 12 o'clock region of any 1953-D Roosevelt dime under moderate magnification, looking for a thin raised line extending from the rim downward into Roosevelt's hair or cranium. The spike's profile — sharp and narrow on early post-crack strikes, broader and more rounded on later die states — provides information about when during the die's remaining service life a particular specimen was struck.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Clay Dible
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References