SKH-5c-2004P-01 Spiked Head

Description

Unique among spiked head varieties for its connection to a limited-issue commemorative nickel design, SKH-5c-2004P-01 was found on a 2004 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel from the Westward Journey series — specifically the Keelboat reverse design — SKH-5c-2004P-01 was cataloged by Cuds on Coins on August 22, 2023. This variety is notable for occurring on one of the temporary nickel designs issued as part of the Westward Journey Nickel Series, which replaced Felix Schlag's standard Monticello reverse with commemorative designs in 2004 and 2005 to mark the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The Keelboat reverse, designed by Al Maletsky, depicted the Corps of Discovery's keelboat — a fundamentally different design from the architectural Monticello that had served the nickel since 1938. When this keelboat reverse clashed with the obverse die during a feed failure, its nautical design elements transferred differently than Monticello's columned facade would have, potentially creating a spike with characteristics unique to the Keelboat reverse's specific relief pattern. The obverse of the 2004-P nickel still carried the familiar Schlag Jefferson portrait, unchanged from the original 1938 design, meaning the spike appears on the same portrait familiar to nickel collectors for decades — but generated by a reverse design that existed for only a single year. As the sole spiked head for this specific reverse type, SKH-5c-2004P-01 represents the only documented die clash variety connecting the traditional Jefferson obverse with the limited-issue Keelboat reverse, making it a singular entry at the intersection of commemorative design numismatics and die variety research.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Randy Adams
• Cross reference: none. 08/22/2023.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References