SKH-1c-2023-04 Spiked Head

Description

Among the earliest spiked head discoveries cataloged for the 2023 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent, SKH-1c-2023-04 represents the fourth documented die clash event from this date. Spiked heads on Lincoln cents arise when the coining press cycles without a planchet between the dies, causing the obverse and reverse to strike each other directly. On the Shield Cent series, the reverse features a bold Union Shield with prominent vertical lines representing the original thirteen colonies and a horizontal band inscribed with "E PLURIBUS UNUM." During a die clash, these sharp geometric elements transfer into the obverse die's field, and subsequent coins struck from that die display a raised metallic projection — the "spike" — extending outward from Lincoln's portrait. The position, angle, and length of the spike vary with each clash event, making every spiked head variety diagnostically unique. With 2023-P cent production reaching into the billions, hundreds of die pairs were consumed during the year, and the statistical probability of multiple clash events occurring across different pairs remained high. This fourth entry was cataloged by Cuds on Coins, one of the foremost online resources for documenting die break and die clash varieties on United States coinage. The 2023-P spiked head sequence continues to grow as variety hunters methodically search through rolls and bags, confirming that even the most recent Shield Cent dates produce these collectible anomalies at a consistent rate.

Attribution History

• Discovered by David Bennett
• Cross reference: none. 06/25/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References