SKH-1c-2014D-03 Spiked Head

Description

Denver Mint production yielded its third cataloged spiked head for the 2014 Lincoln Shield Cent with SKH-1c-2014D-03. The Shield reverse, designed by Lyndall Bass and introduced in 2010, presents a union shield symbolizing Lincoln's preservation of the nation, paired with Brenner's century-old obverse portrait. Spiked heads on Shield Cents form through the same mechanism as on earlier Lincoln designs: a die crack or chip near the apex of Lincoln's head creates a path for metal to extrude upward during striking, producing a distinctive spike-like protrusion. The Denver Mint shares production responsibilities with Philadelphia, and each facility's dies develop independent failure patterns. Copper-plated zinc planchets, standard since 1982, interact with the die surface differently than earlier bronze compositions, and the zinc core's softness contributes to accelerated die wear. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety is best identified under magnification by examining the top of Lincoln's head for the raised spike.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Dustin Ickow
• Cross reference: 12/29/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References