SKH-25c-1997P-01 Spiked Head

Description

Founding spiked head entry for the 1997 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter, SKH-25c-1997P-01 was first cataloged on June 26, 2017, by Cuds on Coins. As the -01 designation indicates, this was the first die clash variety documented for the 1997-P quarter date, establishing the opening record in what would eventually include at least one additional entry. The spiked head mechanism on Washington Quarters operates identically to that on other denominations: when the high-speed coining press cycles without a planchet between the dies, the obverse and reverse strike each other directly. The bold relief of the heraldic eagle reverse impresses into the softer surface of the obverse die, creating a raised element that appears as a spike or projection from Washington's portrait on all subsequent coins struck from that clashed die. The 1997-P occupies a unique position in Washington Quarter history as part of the final stretch of the original 1932 design — within two years, the reverse would be replaced by the first of fifty state-themed designs, fundamentally transforming how Americans interacted with their pocket change. No cross-references exist for this variety in other attribution systems. Collectors who specialize in pre-State Quarter Washington die varieties find the mid-to-late 1990s dates rewarding because the coins circulated widely and can still be found in rolls, bank bags, and mixed-date accumulations, providing regular search opportunities for spiked heads and other die clash varieties documented by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jim Karnes
• Cross reference: none. 06/26/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References