SKH-1c-1959D-04 Spiked Head

Description

From the Denver Mint's first production of Lincoln Memorial Cents, this fourth documented spiked head for the 1959-D records a die fill variety from the inaugural year of Frank Gasparro's reverse design in business strike format. A spiked head forms when foreign matter lodges in the die cavity near Lincoln's portrait, producing a raised spike of metal on the struck coin. Denver's massive cent production in 1959 — the first year of the new Memorial reverse — demanded numerous die pairs across extended press runs, creating ample opportunity for debris to accumulate in the die cavity. SKH-1c-1959D-04 is cataloged by Cuds on Coins and is not listed in the Cohen Index. The 1959-D occupies a unique position as the first Denver Mint issue of a design type that would remain in production until 2008, making die varieties from this debut date attractive to first-year-of-issue collectors. Four spiked heads from the 1959-D reflects a moderate count for a high-mintage date, consistent with more die pairs translating to more opportunities for die fill events.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mitch Wilkinson
• Cross reference number:  Cohen Not Listed. 02/13/2023.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References