SKH-1c-1971D-02 Spiked Head

Description

Second in the Cuds on Coins spiked head catalog for the 1971-D Lincoln Memorial cent, SKH-1c-1971D-02 records a die crack extending from Lincoln's head on a separate working die from SKH-01. Each spiked head variety originates from its own unique die — the crack's specific starting point on the portrait, its angle of departure into the field, its length, and its width create a fingerprint that distinguishes one spiked head from another. This variety was documented on April 21, 2016, adding to a catalog that would eventually grow to encompass more than twenty distinct spiked head dies for the 1971-D date alone. The die crack responsible for SKH-1c-1971D-02 developed as the working die accumulated striking cycles — each impact transferred force through the die steel, and the high-relief contours of Lincoln's head created stress concentrations where fatigue cracks preferentially initiated. Once a crack opened, it typically propagated outward along a path of least resistance through the die's surface, extending with continued use until the die was retired. Collectors seeking this variety should examine the area immediately surrounding Lincoln's head on 1971-D cents, looking for a thin raised line projecting into the field — the metallic record of a die that cracked under the demands of Denver's high-volume production environment.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• Cross reference: none. 04/21/2016
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References