2004 (P) Lincoln Memorial Cent - SKH-1c-2004-02 Spiked Head

Description

Only two spiked heads have been cataloged for the 2004 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent, and this second entry, documented by Cuds on Coins on August 5, 2019, completes the current known inventory. The modest tally of two varieties for the 2004-P stands in sharp contrast to the dozens documented for peak dates like 1995-P and 1999-P, illustrating the wide variation in spiked head counts across the Memorial Cent series. A spiked head is a die crack or break at the top of Lincoln's head: planchet metal fills the crack during striking and stands up from the portrait as a raised spike. With the Memorial reverse approaching its final years of production — the design would be retired after 2008 — the 2004-P occupies the late-middle chapter of the Memorial Cent spiked head story. Collectors who have completed the heavily documented 1990s dates may find that modestly cataloged years like 2004-P offer opportunities for new discoveries that could expand the existing two-entry sequence.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 08/05/2019.

External References