SKH-25C-1998P-11 Spike Head

Description

Eleventh spike head documented for the 1998 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter, SKH-25C-1998P-11 records a die clash variety on one of the final Washington Quarter issues before the State Quarters program transformed the reverse design beginning in 1999. The spike head forms when the obverse and reverse dies contact each other without a planchet between them, and the heraldic eagle reverse design transfers raised detail into the obverse die, creating a protrusion from Washington's portrait on subsequent strikes. On Washington Quarters, the spike typically emanates from the area of Washington's head or wig, and the specific characteristics of each spike — its position, angle, and length — differentiate the eleven documented entries from one another. The 1998-P represents the terminal year for the original John Flanagan reverse design that had been in continuous use since the quarter's 1932 debut, making spike heads from this date among the last produced with this classic reverse configuration. Philadelphia struck over 896 million quarters in 1998, providing enormous production volume across hundreds of die pairs and creating ample opportunity for die clash events. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, the eleven spike heads documented for the 1998-P quarter reflect the intersection of high-volume production with the bold relief of the Flanagan design. Collectors of pre-State Quarter Washington varieties particularly value 1998-P die varieties as end-of-era pieces marking the close of sixty-six years of the original reverse.

Attribution History

• SKH-25C-1998P-11
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References