2008 (D) Lincoln Memorial Cent - SKH-1c-2008D-01 Spiked Head

Description

SKH-1c-2008D-01 is a spiked head on the 2008-D, the last Denver Mint cent with Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse. The 2008-D holds end-of-era significance: no Denver Mint cent would ever again bear the Lincoln Memorial reverse, as 2009 brought four bicentennial designs and 2010 introduced the Union Shield reverse. This historical context elevates every die variety from the 2008-D beyond its intrinsic characteristics, giving it a bookend quality for Memorial Cent die variety research. 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. As the sole documented spiked head for 2008-D, this variety was cataloged on February 3, 2021, by Cuds on Coins. Collectors who appreciate terminal-date varieties find special meaning in spiked heads from 2008-D — each one is a last-of-its-kind die event from a design era that produced some of the most recognizable coins in American pocket change.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 02/03/2021.

External References