2023 (P) Lincoln Shield Cent - SKH-1c-2023-13 Spiked Head

Description

SKH-1c-2023-13 is a spike head documented for the 2023 Philadelphia Lincoln Shield cent by the Cuds on Coins attribution service. Each variety originated from a different working die that developed its own unique crack at the top of Lincoln's head — the precise location and angle of each crack determines the individual character of the spike that appears on coins struck from that die. The Lincoln Shield design, combining Brenner's 1909 portrait with Bass's 2010 Shield reverse, produces cents on copper-plated zinc planchets at about 750 strikes per minute on modern Schuler presses. Under these conditions, a working die may produce several hundred thousand impressions before mechanical fatigue initiates a crack at the most vulnerable stress point in the die profile. Once initiated, the crack typically propagates with continued use, and coins struck at different stages of the crack's growth may show varying spike heights and widths — early-stage spikes tend to be thin and subtle, while late-stage spikes before die retirement can be broad and dramatically raised. Basic magnification of 5-8x focused on the top of Lincoln's head remains the standard detection method.

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