SKH-1c-1944D-02 Spiked Head

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with Cohen Index 44D-71B, this spiked head appears on the 1944-D Lincoln Wheat Cent struck in shell casing brass at the Denver Mint during World War II. The B suffix indicates a sub-listing, meaning this die was initially documented under the broader 44D-71 entry and later found to possess distinct characteristics warranting separate identification. Spiked heads result from a die crack extending from Lincoln's head toward the rim, producing a raised spike on struck coins. The 1944-D holds particular interest because Denver's massive wartime output generated numerous die pairs subjected to high-speed striking stresses. Shell casing brass, approximately 70 percent copper and 30 percent zinc recycled from spent military cartridge cases, gave these cents a distinctive golden color compared to pre-war bronze. The extensive spiked head documentation for the 1944-D date reflects both the volume of dies used and the dedication of specialists cataloging crack patterns across Denver's wartime production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index 44D-71B. 06/09/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References