1974 (D) Lincoln Memorial Cent - SKH-1c-1974D-01 Spike Head

Description

Recorded as SKH-1c-1974D-01 in the Cuds on Coins catalog with a documentation date of June 28, 2021, this spiked head variety appears on 1974 Denver Mint Lincoln Memorial cents. The "spiked head" designation refers to an obverse die crack running from the rim into the bust, which produces a raised spike or protrusion extending from Lincoln's head or bust. The effect is created when a small piece of die steel breaks away or when a die gouge is cut into the working surface in the area of Lincoln's head, allowing planchet metal to fill the resulting depression and form the spike on finished coins. Spiked head varieties are a popular collecting niche within the Lincoln cent series because they produce a visually striking and immediately recognizable anomaly: Lincoln appears to have a horn, antenna, or sharp projection rising from his head. The variety is distinct enough to have earned its own prefix (SKH) in the Cuds on Coins catalog system, separate from the standard die chip (DC) designation. No additional cross-reference numbers from other attribution services have been assigned to this variety. Collectors should look for the characteristic spike extending from Lincoln's portrait on the obverse, confirming the diagnosis with magnification.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 06/28/2021.

External References