SKH-1c-1969D-01 Spiked Head

Description

First documented on January 23, 2017, SKH-1c-1969D-01 is the inaugural spiked head variety cataloged for the 1969-D Lincoln Memorial cent. A spiked head occurs when a die gouge, crack, or metal displacement near Lincoln's portrait creates a raised spike-like protrusion extending from the president's head — most commonly from the top of the skull or forehead area. The mechanism involves either a contact mark from foreign material impacting the die face or a localized stress fracture that opens a narrow channel, which then fills with metal during striking to produce the characteristic spike on finished coins. Spiked heads are among the most affordable and visually appealing die varieties available to Lincoln cent collectors, offering dramatic eye appeal without the premium price attached to doubled dies or major cuds. The 1969-D date is particularly well-represented in the spiked head census, with ten documented varieties reflecting the enormous production volume at the Denver Mint during its first full year of mint-marked coinage since 1964. No cross-references to other attribution services have been established for this variety, with the Cuds on Coins listing serving as the primary published record.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Cross reference: none. 01/23/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References