2021 (P) Lincoln Shield Cent - SKH-1c-2021-18 Spiked Head

Description

SKH-1c-2021-18 is a spiked head on the 2021-P Lincoln Shield cent. The spiked head mechanism is uniform across all Lincoln cent production: die steel ridges adjacent to the incuse portrait fracture from repeated striking, and planchet metal fills the resulting channel to create a thin raised projection on finished coins. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait, in continuous production since 1909, provides the detailed die topography — hair strands, brow line, profile contour — where these fractures preferentially initiate. The Union Shield reverse by Lyndall Bass, featuring the thirteen-stripe shield, scroll banner, and national motto, has been the standard cent reverse since 2010. Each spiked head is catalogically unique because each originates from a different crack on a different die, producing a spike at a distinct position and angle. Attribution to SKH-18 requires careful comparison of the spike's exact portrait-area location against published Cuds on Coins reference images. Collectors should use 10-15x magnification with directional lighting to resolve the thin metallic projection and determine its positional characteristics.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 07/04/2023.

External References