SKH-25c-1997P-07 Spiked Head

Description

Seventh cataloged spiked head variety for the 1997 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter, SKH-25c-1997P-07 exhibits the characteristic raised projection from Washington's head caused by a die crack channeling metal upward during the striking process. Cuds on Coins documents this variety with a cross-reference dated August 29, 2024, making it a recently cataloged addition to the 1997-P spiked head roster. The reverse die cracks noted as "white arrows" in reference images provide secondary diagnostics for confirming the specific die pairing. The 1997-P Washington Quarter is the second-to-last year of the original John Flanagan eagle reverse design before the transformative 50 State Quarters program began in 1999, and spiked head varieties from these final years of the classic design hold a special place for collectors who specialize in the pre-State Quarter era. Die cracks that generate spiked heads typically develop late in a die's service life as fatigue accumulates from hundreds of thousands of strikes, and the crack creates a thin channel between the recessed field and a higher design element — when the planchet metal flows into this channel under the enormous pressure of the coining press, it forms the distinctive raised spike or fin. The 1997-P quarter was struck on copper-nickel clad planchets, and Philadelphia's substantial production volume for the year means that examples of SKH-25c-1997P-07 may exist in reasonably accessible numbers, though the fragile nature of the spike means circulated examples may show wear or loss of the projection.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas Bell
• Cross reference: none. 08/29/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References