SKH-1c-2016-05 Spiked Head

Description

Notable for its cross-reference to a concurrent die crack on the reverse shield, SKH-1c-2016-05 documents a spiked head on the 2016 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent that appears on a die also exhibiting secondary die deterioration. The notation "Die Crack on shield" indicates that the reverse die paired with this spiked head obverse had developed a visible crack through the Union Shield design — a separate form of die failure that coincides with, but is independent from, the die clash event that produced the spike. When a die simultaneously shows both a clash-induced spike on the obverse and a structural crack on the reverse, it suggests the die pair was experiencing multiple forms of stress and deterioration, potentially from extended use near the end of its service life. The spiked head itself forms through the standard mechanism: the dies contact each other without a planchet, and bold elements of the Union Shield reverse transfer into the obverse die, producing a raised protrusion on Lincoln's portrait. Five documented spiked heads for the 2016-P cent reflects the ongoing prevalence of die clash events in Shield Cent production — the design's bold geometric reverse continues to generate visually striking spikes year after year. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, the secondary die crack cross-reference adds attribution depth and helps collectors distinguish this particular die pair from the other four 2016-P spiked heads. Collectors who value die state progression may find examples showing varying degrees of the reverse die crack, from incipient to fully developed.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Sandy Peters
• Cross reference: Die Crack on shield.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References