1996 (P) Washington Quarter - SKH-25c-1996P-19 Spiked Head

Description

Nineteenth spiked head variety documented for the 1996 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter, this entry demonstrates that the 1996-P date has proven remarkably productive for spiked head research. Reaching nineteen documented spiked heads from a single date and mint places the 1996-P among the most heavily cataloged quarters for this variety type, rivaling even some of the more prolific Lincoln Shield Cent dates. The mechanism is the same for every spiked head: a crack in the obverse die runs from the rim into Washington's bust, and the metal filling it appears as a raised spike on Washington's portrait in subsequent strikes. Each of the nineteen entries represents a distinct cracked obverse die, identified through unique spike characteristics including position, angle, length, and accompanying die markers. This variety was cataloged comparatively recently, on November 15, 2024, by Cuds on Coins — a full seven years after the earliest 1996-P spiked head entries, indicating that new discoveries continue to emerge as collectors reexamine coins from this date. The 1996-P quarter mintage was substantial, providing a deep pool of coins for ongoing examination. No cross-references to other attribution systems exist for this specific variety. The continued expansion of the 1996-P spiked head catalog into the high teens reflects both the productivity of die variety research on this date and the dedication of the collectors who systematically search through rolls and bags of mid-1990s quarters.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 11/15/2024.

External References