SKH-1c-2018D-02 Spiked Head

Description

Following the inaugural 2018-D spiked head entry, SKH-1c-2018D-02 on the 2018 (D) Lincoln Shield Cent confirms that Denver's 2018 cent production yielded at least two distinct dies with portrait-area cracks. The second entry in a date sequence is significant because it validates the date as a multi-variety source rather than a single-event anomaly, and it begins to establish the foundation for cross-die comparison within the year. Collectors tracking Denver Mint spiked heads across years can note whether the 2018-D catalog depth ultimately matches, exceeds, or falls short of the 2016-D and 2017-D catalogs, creating a longitudinal view of die failure patterns at a single facility. The Denver Mint's high-altitude location means that atmospheric pressure during striking differs slightly from Philadelphia's, though whether this marginal pressure differential has any measurable effect on die fatigue is a matter of theoretical interest rather than demonstrated fact. Cataloged and attributed by Cuds on Coins from Denver Mint production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jeremy Hyer
• Cross reference: none. 02/05/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References