1997 (P) Washington Quarter - SKH-25c-1997P-02 Spiked Head

Description

Second spiked head cataloged for the 1997 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter, this variety was recorded on January 4, 2018, by Cuds on Coins and joins the growing spiked head documentation for the penultimate year of the original Flanagan design before the State Quarters program launched in 1999. Two spiked heads for 1997-P represents a modest but meaningful catalog — each entry documents a unique obverse die that cracked from the rim into Washington's bust. Metal filling the crack during striking appears as a raised spike projecting from Washington's portrait on coins struck after the crack formed. The 1997-P quarter was produced in quantities sufficient for circulation demand during a year when the forthcoming State Quarters program was already generating anticipation among collectors and the numismatic press. This anticipation would soon translate into the largest sustained increase in coin collecting participation in American history, but in 1997 the standard Washington reverse was still being struck in the time-honored manner. No cross-references to other attribution services have been identified for SKH-25c-1997P-02. The distinction between this variety and the -01 entry lies in the specific spike characteristics: position on Washington's head, angle of projection, length, and any accompanying die markers that uniquely identify the cracked die.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 01/04/2018.

External References