SKH-1c-1972D-01 Spiked Head

Description

First in the spiked head sequence for the 1972-D Lincoln Memorial cent, SKH-1c-1972D-01 was documented by the Cuds on Coins attribution team on January 13, 2017, with no external cross-references established. Spiked head varieties — sometimes called "horned Lincoln" errors by collectors — occur when a die crack develops at or near the top of Lincoln's head and projects outward into the field, creating a raised metallic spike or horn on struck coins that appears to grow from the portrait. The visual effect ranges from a subtle pointed projection to a dramatic thorn-like extension depending on the crack's length, width, and angle. Die cracks that produce spiked heads develop at the junction between the high-relief portrait and the surrounding field, a zone of concentrated stress where the die steel transitions from deep recess (forming the highest point of Lincoln's head on the struck coin) to the relatively flat field area. This stress concentration, combined with the repeated impact forces of striking, makes the upper head region a predictable failure initiation site. SKH-1c-1972D-01 established the beginning of what would become an extensive catalog of sixteen spiked head varieties for the 1972-D date — a population reflecting both the massive number of dies employed for this high-mintage year and the inherent vulnerability of the portrait region to crack formation. Collectors of spiked heads value each variety for its unique spike geometry, and assembling a complete set of all documented spiked heads for a given date represents a specialized pursuit within the broader die break collecting community.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Andrew Wojtowich
• Cross reference: none. 01/13/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References