SKH-10c-1954-01 Spike Head

Description

Cataloged by the Cuds on Coins attribution service, SKH-10c-1954-01 documents the first identified spike head variety on the 1954 Roosevelt silver dime. The designation follows the standard naming convention: SKH for spike head, 10c for the dime denomination, 1954 for the date, and 01 indicating the first cataloged spike head for this issue. Spike head varieties occur when a die crack develops at or near the top of the portrait's head, creating a raised spike or projection that extends from the head into the adjacent field — on Roosevelt dimes, this manifests as a metallic spike projecting upward from the top of John R. Sinnock's presidential portrait. The mechanism behind spike heads involves die stress fracturing at the boundary between the high-relief portrait and the lower field area, where the abrupt change in die cavity depth creates a natural stress concentration point. When the die steel cracks at this junction, the gap fills with planchet metal during striking, producing the characteristic raised spike on the finished coin. Philadelphia struck approximately 114.24 million Roosevelt dimes in 1954, a significant production run that subjected dies to the intensive striking cycles that promote stress fracturing. Unlike intentional design elements, spike heads are unique to individual dies and vary in length, angle, and prominence based on the specific fracture geometry of each affected die. No cross-references from other attribution services are documented (noted as "Cross reference: none" with a catalog date of March 1, 2016). Collectors can identify spike head varieties at relatively low magnification (5-10x), as the raised metallic projection from Roosevelt's head is typically visible as an anomalous extension of the portrait's upper boundary — appearing as a fin, spike, or horn-like protrusion depending on the specific fracture characteristics.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Cross reference: none. 03/01/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References