1994 (P) Jefferson Nickel - SKH-5c-1994P-02 Spiked Head

Description

Among the earlier documented spiked heads for the 1994 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel, this second entry records a die crack from a year when Philadelphia's nickel production contributed to the substantial circulating supply of five-cent coins needed for daily commerce. The spiked head on Jefferson Nickels is the same die crack as on any denomination: a fracture opens in the obverse die between the rim and the bust, and metal filling it during striking creates a raised line on subsequent coins. On the Jefferson Nickel, that raised line runs from the rim and meets Jefferson's portrait. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with no cross-references and first documented on March 21, 2016, SKH-5c-1994P-02 represents discovery work conducted more than twenty years after the coin's original striking — a common timeline in die variety research where systematic examination often lags production by decades. The 1994-P Jefferson Nickel sits within a stretch of the series where production volumes and die management practices were relatively consistent, and the spiked head count for this date reflects that stability. Each spiked head variety in the Jefferson Nickel catalog is distinguished by precise measurements of the spike's position, angle, and size relative to Jefferson's portrait, ensuring that the second entry remains uniquely identifiable from the first, third, and subsequent discoveries.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 03/21/2016.

External References