1993 (P) Jefferson Nickel - SKH-5c-1993P-04 Spiked Head

Description

Reaching the fourth documented spiked head for the 1993 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel, this variety demonstrates that several different obverse dies cracked into the bust during the year's production cycle. Each spiked head is a unique die crack — a fracture that runs from the rim into Jefferson's bust and fills with metal during striking, producing a raised protrusion on Jefferson's portrait. Four spiked heads from a single date indicates a healthy level of die variety documentation for 1993-P, reflecting both the production volume and the diligence of researchers examining coins from this era. The early 1990s represented a mature production period for the original Jefferson Nickel design, with dies manufactured using well-established processes that had been refined over more than five decades since the series debut in 1938. Despite this refinement, dies still fatigued and cracked in service. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins on June 26, 2016, SKH-5c-1993P-04 joins three earlier entries in building a comprehensive record of spiked head die cracks for this date. Collectors pursuing Jefferson Nickel spiked heads across the original design era find mid-1990s dates offer a productive search window with enough varieties to maintain interest.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 06/26/2016.

External References