2016 (P) Lincoln Shield Cent - 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 die failure on the other die from the obverse crack that produced the spike. When a die pair shows a spike crack on the obverse and a structural crack on the reverse, it suggests the pair was experiencing multiple forms of stress and deterioration, potentially from extended use near the end of its service life. The spiked head itself is the standard die crack: a crack in the obverse die runs from the rim into Lincoln's bust and fills with metal, producing a raised protrusion on Lincoln's portrait. 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.

Cross References

• Cross reference: Die Crack on shield.

External References