SKH-1c-1971S-02 Spike Head

Description

Second spiked head variety cataloged for the 1971-S proof Lincoln Memorial cent, SKH-1c-1971S-02 documents a distinct proof die that developed a fatigue crack at Lincoln's head — confirming that the spiked head phenomenon on 1971-S proof dies was not an isolated single-die occurrence but affected at least two separate working dies. Recorded by Cuds on Coins with a documentation date of April 10, 2024, this variety arrived nearly six years after SKH-01's September 2018 documentation — a gap that illustrates how die variety catalogs continue to grow as new specimens surface from collections, proof sets opened for examination, or secondary market transactions that expose previously unexamined material. No cross-references to external attribution systems have been documented. The second spiked head on a proof die deepens the statistical picture of die failure patterns at San Francisco during 1971 proof cent production: two independently cracked proof dies developing the same type of failure at the same high-stress design feature suggests that the obverse die design's relief geometry at Lincoln's head created a reproducible vulnerability across the die population. Each spiked head carries a unique crack geometry — the spike's departure angle from Lincoln's portrait, its length, width, and the specific point of origin on the hair detail all differ between SKH-01 and SKH-02, providing the diagnostic criteria for distinguishing the two varieties. Proof surfaces render these geometric differences with exceptional clarity, as the mirror-like fields provide maximum contrast against the raised die-crack-filled spike, making careful angular comparison against reference photographs the most reliable attribution method for separating the two documented 1971-S proof spiked head entries.

Attribution History

• Discovered by William (Bill) W
• Cross reference: none. 04/10/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References