SKH-1C-1998-12 Spike Head

Description

Twelfth spike head variety cataloged for the 1998 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent by Cuds on Coins, SKH-1C-1998-12 documents yet another instance of die cracking at the crown of Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait on Frank Gasparro's Memorial cent design (1959-2008). Philadelphia produced approximately 5.03 billion cents in 1998, an enormous output that consumed hundreds of obverse dies and generated correspondingly frequent opportunities for the radial die cracks that produce spike head varieties. The sequence number 12 establishes that at least a dozen distinct spiked head dies have been identified for this single date and mint combination, reflecting both the massive die consumption and the systematic cataloging efforts of variety researchers examining modern Lincoln cents. Spike heads on Memorial cents are among the most popular entry-level die varieties for new collectors because they combine visual accessibility — many are visible at low magnification or even with the unaided eye — with the educational value of understanding die failure mechanics. The crack develops at or near the highest point of relief on the obverse, where Lincoln's hair creates a stress concentration in the die steel. Under repeated striking pressure, the steel fractures radially, and planchet metal is forced into the fissure, producing the characteristic raised spike or horn projection. Each spike head receives a unique catalog number because the position, angle, and extent of the die crack vary from die to die, making every spiked head a fingerprint of an individual die's specific failure. Collectors should examine the top of Lincoln's head under 5-10x magnification, comparing the spike's position and angle against published images for SKH-1C-1998-12 to confirm attribution to this specific die.

Attribution History

• SKH-1C-1998-12
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References