SKH-1c-2023D-02 Spike Head

Description

Second documented spiked head variety for the 2023 Denver Mint Lincoln Shield Cent, this variety was cataloged by Cuds on Coins on January 6, 2025, with a reverse die chip noted by "black arrows" in the original documentation serving as an additional attribution marker. A spiked head error occurs when a fragment of die steel near Lincoln's portrait breaks away, leaving a small cavity in the die face that fills with metal on each subsequent strike, producing the characteristic raised spike or protrusion from the head. The 2023-D cent represents very recent production from the Denver Mint, and the documentation of this variety barely two years after the coins were struck reflects the speed at which modern die variety researchers identify and catalog new discoveries. The Lincoln Shield Cent design, in production since 2010, pairs Victor David Brenner's classic 1909 Lincoln portrait (modified by the Mint over the decades) with Lyndall Bass's Union Shield reverse. Denver's cent production typically runs in the billions, with the 2023-D mintage continuing the modern era's massive output levels. The reverse die chip provides collectors with a second identification point beyond the obverse spike, which is particularly useful when examining large quantities of modern cents for this variety.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Soren Rollin
• Cross reference: none. 01/06/2025.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References