SKH-1c-2008-06 Spiked Head

Description

Struck during the final year of Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse, SKH-1c-2008-06 documents the sixth cataloged spiked head for the 2008 Philadelphia Mint cent. Cross-referenced as JCc-2008_012 in the Jim Caldwell catalog, this variety carries particular historical weight: 2008 marked the last full production year of the Memorial design before four bicentennial reverses appeared in 2009, followed by the permanent Shield Cent reverse in 2010. Die varieties from terminal years acquire a commemorative quality for collectors who value them as artifacts from a design's final chapter. The spiked head manifests as a raised metallic projection near Lincoln's portrait, caused by a die gouge that transferred its shape onto every coin struck from the affected die. Six documented spiked heads for 2008-P is a modest count compared to the prolific 1990s totals, possibly reflecting reduced cent demand as electronic payments grew. Zinc-core copper-plated planchets. The Memorial Cent debuted in 1959 and served for exactly fifty years. Cataloged and verified by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference: JCc-2008_012. 01/06/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References