2016 (P) Lincoln Shield Cent - SKH-1c-2016-14 Spiked Head

Description

Noted with an obverse die chip at the top of Lincoln's head, this spiked head for the 2016 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent records a die deterioration pattern that has been systematically tracked since the Wheat Cent era. A spiked head occurs when a die crack or die chip develops near the apex of Lincoln's portrait, and the resulting void fills with metal during striking to produce a raised spike or protrusion extending from the head. The die chip specifically at the top of the head noted in the comments identifies the precise mechanism — a small fragment of die steel broke away at the highest point of the design, creating the void that produced the spike. The 2016-P Lincoln Shield Cent was struck during the seventh year of the Shield reverse design introduced in 2010, and Philadelphia's massive cent production consumed hundreds of die pairs, each carrying the possibility of developing die cracks or chips at stress concentration points on the obverse die. This variety was cataloged by Cuds on Coins on August 30, 2018.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 08/30/2018.

External References