SKH-1c-1953-02 Spike Head

Description

Identified on a 1953 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent and cross-referenced to the Cohen Index as 53-93B, this second spike head for the date documents a die clash occurring during proof production at the Philadelphia Mint — a controlled environment where such anomalies are particularly notable. Proof dies are specially prepared with polished surfaces to produce mirror-like fields on the finished coins, and when a die clash occurs during proof striking, the transferred design element stands out sharply against the pristine proof surface. The Cohen Index reference (53-93B) connects this spike head to the broader proof Lincoln Cent classification system maintained by Jerry Cohen, whose comprehensive catalog of proof Lincoln Cent die varieties has become an essential reference for the specialty. The 1953 proof cent was struck during the later Wheat Cent era, when proof sets were produced exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint for sale to collectors. Proof production numbers in the early 1950s were modest compared to later decades — the 1953 proof set had a mintage of 128,800 — meaning each proof die struck relatively few coins before being retired. Despite this limited use, die clashes could still occur during the proof striking process, and the resulting spike heads on proof coins represent some of the most visually striking examples of the variety type. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with the documentation date of March 25, 2016, SKH-1c-1953-02 combines the appeal of proof surface quality with a visible die clash variety.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference: Cohen Index 53-93B. 03/25/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References