SKH-1c-1971D-15 Spiked Head

Description

Fifteenth spiked head variety for the 1971-D Lincoln Memorial cent, SKH-1c-1971D-15 was documented on December 27, 2017 — the day after two more varieties were cataloged — maintaining the remarkably productive discovery pace of late December 2017. Attributed by Cuds on Coins, this variety sits in the upper half of an eventual twenty-one-plus entry catalog that collectively documents an unusual concentration of die cracks at Lincoln's head across Denver's 1971 cent dies. The persistence of discoveries at this depth in the sequence refutes any assumption that spiked head varieties are rare or exceptional events; on the 1971-D date, they represent a recurring production phenomenon affecting a measurable percentage of the obverse die population. For cherry-pickers searching rolls, bags, or accumulations of 1971-D cents, the practical identification strategy involves holding the coin at a slight angle under a directional light source, which casts shadows along any raised spike projecting from the head into the field. Once a spiked head is detected, attribution to a specific catalog number requires measuring the spike's direction of travel from the portrait — north, northeast, east, or other bearing — and comparing its length and position against the documented profiles for SKH-01 through SKH-21.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bob Byrd
• Cross reference: none. 12/27/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References