1993 (P) Jefferson Nickel - SKH-5c-1993P-05 & 06 Spiked Head

Description

Fifth spiked head variety cataloged for the 1993 Philadelphia Jefferson nickel, SKH-5c-1993P-05 records yet another instance of the distinctive die chip phenomenon that afflicts Felix Schlag's Jefferson portrait on five-cent coins produced during the early 1990s. Spiked head varieties arise when a small fragment of die steel breaks away from the rim of the incuse portrait cavity — typically at the top of Jefferson's head or along his forehead — creating a void in the die that fills with metal during striking and produces a raised spike, horn, or protrusion extending from the portrait on the finished coin. The Cuds on Coins attribution service documented this as the fifth distinct spiked head die identified on the 1993-P issue, following the naming convention SKH (spiked head), 5c (five-cent denomination), 1993P (date and mint), and 05 (sequential die number). Philadelphia produced approximately 412.1 million nickels in 1993, a substantial output that employed numerous obverse dies — each subject to the progressive stress that can fracture small steel fragments from the die surface. The frequency of spiked head varieties on Jefferson nickels reflects the geometry of Schlag's portrait, where Jefferson's hair detail creates thin ridges in the die steel that are vulnerable to chipping under repeated striking pressure. Collectors examining 1993-P nickels for this variety should inspect the area around and above Jefferson's head for a raised metallic projection that differs from the normal hair detail, using 5-10x magnification to distinguish die chip spikes from planchet imperfections or post-strike damage.

External References