SKH-1C-2014-02 Spike Head

Description

Among the earliest cataloged spiked head varieties for the 2014 Lincoln Shield Cent, the SKH-1C-2014-02 documents one of at least 22 distinct die chip varieties identified on this Philadelphia Mint date. Spiked heads occur when a small fragment of die steel breaks away or a crack develops near Lincoln's portrait, leaving a raised protrusion — often resembling a spike, horn, or antenna — on the struck coin. The Lincoln Shield Cent, introduced in 2010, features a portrait adapted from Victor David Brenner's classic 1909 design, sculpted by Lyndall Bass, paired with a Union shield reverse created through the United States Mint's Artistic Infusion Program. Die chips along the high-relief contours of Lincoln's bust are among the most commonly reported varieties on modern zinc-core copper-plated cents, as the fine detail in the hair and profile creates stress points where die steel is vulnerable to fracture under repeated striking pressure. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins as SKH-1C-2014-02, this early entry in the 2014 sequence helps establish the baseline for spiked head occurrence during a year that proved exceptionally prolific for this variety type.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• SKH-1C-2014-02
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References