SKH-1c-1969D-03 Spiked Head

Description

Reported on August 29, 2017, SKH-1c-1969D-03 is the third spiked head variety attributed for the 1969-D Lincoln cent, extending the catalog of die gouges affecting Lincoln's portrait from Denver's second year of resumed mint-marked production. Die gouges that produce spiked heads can originate from multiple causes: a fragment of broken die steel from a different die bouncing into the press area and striking the die face, a piece of wire or metal shaving from the planchet feed mechanism contacting the die under pressure, or even a stress fracture opening in the die steel itself. Regardless of origin, the damage creates a recessed channel in the die — and because dies are negative impressions, any recess in the die produces a raised feature on the struck coin. The resulting spike mimics the appearance of a hair or antenna projecting from Lincoln's head, which gives these varieties their memorable colloquial name. The 1969-D cent's abundant spiked head population makes it an ideal focus date for collectors assembling a type set of spike positions, documenting the full range of clock positions and spike geometries possible on the Lincoln Memorial design.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Sandy Peters
• Cross reference: none. 08/29/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References