1996 (P) Washington Quarter - SKH-25c-1996P-07 Spiked Head

Description

Seventh documented spiked head on a 1996 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter, SKH-25c-1996P-07 captures another cracked obverse die within the final years of the original John Flanagan portrait series. Spiked heads on quarters form the same way as on cents: a crack opens in the obverse die between the rim and the bust. Metal fills the crack during striking, and coins struck from that die afterward display a raised spike projecting from Washington's portrait. The 1996-P quarter was produced during a period of high circulating coinage demand, just three years before the State Quarters program would dramatically increase public interest in quarter collecting. Seven documented spiked heads for a single date and mint facility testifies to both substantial production volume and active collector examination. This variety was first cataloged on October 10, 2017, by Cuds on Coins, a specialized resource that has systematically documented die cracks, cuds and other die varieties across all modern denominations. No cross-references to other attribution systems have been established for this particular variety. Collectors pursuing spiked heads on Washington Quarters find the 1990s dates particularly productive, as the final years of the classic design saw consistent die pair consumption throughout the production cycle.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 10/10/2017.

External References