SKH-1c-2015D-01 Spiked Head

Description

Denver Mint cent production in 2015 generated billions of Lincoln Shield cents, and among them a single obverse die developed the characteristic portrait-area crack that defines the spiked head variety type. Cataloged as SKH-1c-2015D-01, this is the first documented spiked head from the 2015-D Lincoln Shield Cent, and the D mintmark carries significance: Denver spiked heads are cataloged separately from Philadelphia counterparts because each facility operates independent die populations under different press conditions and inspection schedules. The Denver facility, located at elevation in Colorado, subjects its equipment to ambient conditions that differ from Philadelphia's sea-level environment, though whether altitude-related factors influence die fatigue rates remains a subject of collector speculation rather than confirmed analysis. The die responsible for this variety developed a crack through Lincoln's portrait that allowed planchet metal to extrude upward during striking, producing the raised spike that gives the variety its name. Attributed and cataloged by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Sandy Peters
• Cross reference: none. 05/01/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References