1995 (P) Jefferson Nickel - SKH-5c-1995P-04 Spiked Head

Description

Fourth spiked head cataloged for the 1995 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel, this variety documents yet another cracked obverse die in a year that saw substantial five-cent piece production. When a crack opens in the Jefferson obverse die between the rim and the bust, metal fills it on every strike and produces a raised spike on Jefferson's portrait during subsequent strikes. Four documented spiked heads for 1995-P indicates that obverse dies cracked this way across multiple die pairs throughout the year's production run — a pattern consistent with the high-speed automated coining operations employed at the Philadelphia Mint. The 1995 date falls within the later decades of the original Jefferson Nickel design period, when die production techniques were highly refined and consistent, yet dies still fatigued and cracked under high-speed striking. Each spiked head in the sequence is distinguished by the precise location, angle, and length of the spike relative to Jefferson's profile, making every entry diagnostically unique. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins on September 9, 2016, this variety was documented over twenty years after production. The original Jefferson Nickel obverse, with its left-facing portrait based on the Jean-Antoine Houdon bust, presents a distinctive profile that makes spike protrusions visually identifiable even at moderate magnification levels.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 09/09/2016.

External References