SKH-1c-1971D-34 Spiked Head

Description

Distinguished by a notable secondary feature on the reverse, SKH-1c-1971D-34 on the 1971-D Lincoln Memorial cent carries an additional attribution marker beyond the standard spiked head die crack: a reverse die chip indicated by the catalog notation "white arrow." Documented by Cuds on Coins on December 10, 2019, this variety combines the characteristic obverse spike — a raised line projecting from Lincoln's head where a fatigue crack filled with planchet metal during striking — with a separate reverse die defect that provides an independent identification pathway. Die chips form when small fragments of die steel break away from the die surface, leaving a void that produces a corresponding raised dot or irregularly shaped bump on struck coins. The "white arrow" notation in the catalog indicates that the published reference photographs mark the die chip's location with an arrow, guiding collectors to the specific area on the reverse where this feature appears. Having both an obverse spiked head and a reverse die chip on the same die pair makes SKH-34 one of the more readily identifiable varieties in the upper range of the 1971-D spiked head catalog — collectors can use the reverse die chip as a quick screening criterion before confirming the obverse spike geometry. No external cross-references have been established. The combination of two distinct die defects on a single die pair reflects the advanced state of wear and deterioration that both dies had reached during their service life in Denver's high-volume production environment.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mike Durney
• Cross reference: none. 12/10/2019.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References