SKH-1c-1943-02 Spiked Head

Description

Second cataloged spiked head for the 1943 Philadelphia Wheat Cent, SKH-1c-1943-02 shares Cohen Index 43-74 with its predecessor SKH-1c-1943-01 — a shared value indicating both may derive from closely related die conditions, though each represents a distinct working die with unique gouge geometry. The 1943 steel cent's zinc-coated planchets were notoriously hard on dies, and the resulting accelerated wear created conditions conducive to chips and gouges that produce spiked heads. Where SKH-1c-1943-01 established the catalog for this date, SKH-1c-1943-02 confirms the phenomenon was not isolated to a single die, reinforcing the connection between steel composition and elevated die damage rates. Each spiked head exhibits a raised projection near Lincoln's bust whose angle, length, and position serve as the primary diagnostic for distinguishing entries bearing the same Cohen Index value. Collectors pursuing wartime variety sets value steel cent spiked heads for their intersection of compositional novelty and die anomaly documentation. Philadelphia Mint. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index 43-74. 12/23/2016
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References