1996 (P) Jefferson Nickel - SKH-5c-1996P-04 Spiked Head

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with a listing date of May 27, 2017, SKH-5c-1996P-04 documents the fourth spiked head variety for the 1996-P Jefferson nickel. Spiked head errors occur when a die crack or die break near Jefferson's head on the obverse allows planchet metal to flow into the gap during striking, creating a raised spike, horn, or protrusion extending from Jefferson's portrait. These spikes can vary dramatically in size and location, from subtle points near the hairline to prominent horns projecting from the forehead, temple, or top of the head. Die markers for this variety note four die cracks above Jefferson's head on the reverse side (possibly indicating similar die stress patterns on the paired reverse die), though no specific obverse markers beyond the spike itself were documented. No cross-references to other cataloging systems exist. The 1996-P Jefferson nickel was struck at Philadelphia with a mintage of 829.3 million pieces, and Felix Schlag's portrait design had been in continuous use for 58 years at that point, making it one of the longest-serving designs in American coinage history. Spiked head varieties have developed a dedicated following among Jefferson nickel collectors, with some specialists assembling date-complete sets of spiked head examples. The visual drama of a spike extending from a president's head makes these errors immediately recognizable and photogenic, contributing to their popularity in online collecting communities. The four documented die cracks above the head provide attribution markers that persist even if the spike itself is minor, allowing positive identification across a range of die states.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 05/27/2017.

External References