SKH-1c-2017P-05 Spiked Head

Description

Mid-sequence spiked heads like SKH-1c-2017P-05 on the 2017 (P) Lincoln Shield Cent occupy a position in the catalog where the variety type for the date is well-established but the full extent of the catalog has not yet been reached. The fifth confirmed spiked head die from 2017 Philadelphia production means that researchers had built enough familiarity with the date's die characteristics to efficiently distinguish new submissions from previously cataloged entries, a process that accelerates as the reference base grows. For the collector, mid-sequence varieties represent the core of a date's spiked head population: early entries may attract attention for their pioneer status, and late entries for their scarcity, but varieties in the -04 through -07 range form the accessible middle ground that most set builders acquire first. The 2017 Philadelphia cent's zinc-core copper-plated composition continues the standard established in 1982, and the planchet's softness relative to older copper alloy cents ensures that die cracks produce well-defined spikes. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tom Koolick
• Cross reference: none. 10/10/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References