1998 (P) Washington Quarter - SKH-25c-1998P-01 Spiked Head

Description

First spiked head documented for the 1998 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter — the final year of the original heraldic eagle reverse before the State Quarters program commenced in January 1999. This variety, cataloged on March 26, 2017, by Cuds on Coins, marks the terminal-year entry for spiked heads on the classic Flanagan design that had served the denomination since 1932. The spiked head was the same die crack throughout the sixty-seven years of the original design: a crack in the obverse die running from the rim into Washington's bust, filled with metal during striking and raised on subsequently struck coins. The 1998-P quarter represents the end of an era — after this date, the reverse die would feature state-specific designs, each used for only one year, changing the dynamics of die variety research on the denomination. No cross-references to other attribution systems have been recorded for this variety. As the sole spiked head currently cataloged for 1998-P, this entry may represent either the only cracked die of this kind examined for this date or simply the first formal report. The transition to State Quarters in 1999 diverted much collector attention to the new reverse designs, potentially leaving late-classic-design production less thoroughly searched than earlier years in the series. Collectors interested in a comprehensive spiked head collection spanning the entire pre-State Quarter era from 1965 through 1998 will find SKH-25c-1998P-01 an essential terminal anchor.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 03/26/2017.

External References