SKH-1c-1964-02 Spiked Head

Description

Documented as the regular strike counterpart of SKH-1c-1964-02, this spiked head variety was struck from the Philadelphia Mint's 1964 business strike production of 2,648,575,000 Lincoln cents — the largest single-year cent mintage in U.S. history at that time. A spiked head variety features a raised projection extending from Lincoln's portrait, caused by a die crack or chip that creates a void in the die steel. During striking, planchet metal flows into the void under extreme pressure, forming a spike that appears as a raised protrusion on the finished coin. The size and direction of the spike depend on the geometry of the die damage: a narrow crack produces a thin, blade-like projection, while a broader chip creates a wider, more rounded bump. The 1964 Philadelphia production consumed an extraordinary number of dies, and the extended service lives required by the record-breaking mintage pushed many dies to the limits of their structural integrity. Cross-referenced as Cohen Index 64-73 with a documentation date of 02/14/2017, matching the proof companion listing and confirming that both entries reference the same die deterioration pattern. Spiked head varieties are among the most visually accessible error types for beginning collectors, as the spike is often visible to the unaided eye without magnification, making them popular entry points into the world of die variety collecting. Attributed by Cuds on Coins. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint on a 95% copper, 5% tin-zinc planchet weighing 3.11 grams at 19mm diameter.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Claude Butcher
• Cross reference: Cohen Index 64-73. 02/14/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References