SKH-1c-2021-02 Spiked Head

Description

Cross-denomination comparison reveals that spiked head formations are essentially a Lincoln cent phenomenon in modern American coinage, and SKH-1c-2021-02 benefits from that specificity in terms of collector focus. The Lincoln cent obverse, with its forward-facing portrait and hair detail above the cap, presents a geometry that is particularly susceptible to the kind of die cracking that produces portrait spikes. Other denominations struck at the same facility during the same production period use obverse designs whose portrait geometries do not concentrate stress in the same way, or whose production volumes and die rotation schedules differ enough that equivalent spike formations have not been systematically documented. This makes the cent series, and specifically the Shield era cents like this 2021 (P) example, the primary habitat for spiked head variety collectors. The concentration of the phenomenon in a single denomination creates a coherent specialty that collectors can pursue with a focused reference framework.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Kellie Considine
• Cross reference: none. 08/09/2021.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References