SKH-1c-2013D-01 Spiked Head

Description

Sole representative of the Denver Mint in the 2013 Lincoln Shield Cent spiked head catalog, SKH-1c-2013D-01 underscores the persistent scarcity of D-mint entries relative to Philadelphia production. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins on March 12, 2024, this variety documents the only confirmed die clash event from the 2013-D, contrasting with whatever number of spiked heads the 2013-P may have yielded. The Union Shield reverse that debuted in 2010 features bold vertical lines representing the thirteen original colonies and a horizontal band inscribed with "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and these geometric elements transfer into the obverse die during press cycles that occur without a planchet. The resulting raised spike on Lincoln's portrait is diagnostically unique to the die pair involved, with the D mintmark providing definitive facility attribution. Denver's 2013 cent production generated billions of coins, yet the lone spiked head cataloged for the date raises the same questions that surround most D-mint entries: is the scarcity of documented varieties a reflection of genuinely lower clash frequency at Denver, different die management practices, or simply less collector attention devoted to D-mint coins? The 2013-D was the fourth year of Shield Cent production at Denver, and the early Shield Cent era has generally yielded fewer documented D-mint spiked heads than the later years when the design and its associated die clash patterns became more familiar to researchers. This solitary entry serves as both a confirmed data point and an invitation for collectors to search additional 2013-D material in hopes of expanding the catalog.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert Oney
• Cross reference: none. 03/12/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References