2021 (P) Lincoln Shield Cent - SKH-1c-2021-05 Spiked Head

Description

Grading implications extend beyond the standard Sheldon scale when it comes to spiked heads, and SKH-1c-2021-05 illustrates how a variety can interact with conventional grade assessment in nuanced ways. Major third-party grading services evaluate a coin's technical grade—strike, surface preservation, luster, and eye appeal—without penalizing legitimate die varieties. A spiked head, being a die-produced characteristic rather than post-mint damage, does not reduce the technical grade of the coin. However, if a spike is positioned prominently near the portrait, some graders may note it in the slab comments, and the degree of wear the spike itself shows can serve as a secondary die-state indicator.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 01/05/2022.

External References