SKH-10c-1953D-03 Spiked Head

Description

Rounding out the trio of spiked head varieties for the 1953-D Roosevelt dime, SKH-10c-1953D-03 documents a die crack deterioration event at the Denver Mint during the early silver Roosevelt dime era. Denver struck approximately 136.4 million Roosevelt dimes in 1953, producing a substantial quantity of John R. Sinnock's design in the 90% silver composition that would continue for another eleven years. The spiked head phenomenon — where a die crack in the recessed portrait area creates a channel that fills with planchet metal during striking — has been documented across numerous dates in the Roosevelt dime series, but three spiked heads for a single date-mintmark represents a moderate concentration that suggests either active die utilization beyond typical retirement thresholds or particular susceptibility of the 1953-D die steel to cracking. Sinnock's Roosevelt portrait features relatively high relief compared to many mid-twentieth century coin designs, with the detailed hair treatment above Roosevelt's forehead and the defined ear structure creating areas of significant depth in the die that serve as stress concentration points during repeated striking. The 1953-D date falls within the pre-hoarding era of silver Roosevelt dime production, before the 1964 production surge that generated the extreme die consumption responsible for the dozen-plus spiked heads documented for that year's Denver output. First cataloged on July 17, 2017, by the Cuds on Coins attribution service with no cross-references, this variety appeals to Roosevelt dime specialists who focus on the early silver years of the series. Collectors should examine Roosevelt's profile under 10-15x magnification, comparing the spike's position and direction against the other documented 1953-D spiked heads (SKH-10c-1953D-01 and -02) to confirm the correct attribution.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Juan Aguerre
• Cross reference: none. 07/17/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References