SKH-10c-1944D-01 Spiked Head

Description

Unique among spiked head varieties for its cross-reference to a repunched mintmark — RPM-003, FS-501 designated by the "black arrow" indicator — this 1944 Denver Mint Mercury Dime documents a die that experienced both a mintmark punching error and a die clash event. The dual attribution means this die first received a repunched D mintmark during die preparation, then later suffered a clash during coining operations that produced the characteristic spiked head protrusion. Adolph A. Weinman's Mercury Dime obverse, featuring Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap (popularly but incorrectly called Mercury), presents a profile that can display dramatic spike effects when clash impressions transfer from the reverse. The fasces reverse, with its bundled rods and battle axe design, contains sufficient relief to create identifiable clash impressions. The 1944-D Mercury Dime was struck during World War II at the Denver Mint, which was producing silver dimes at high volume to supply wartime commerce — a period when the Mint was simultaneously manufacturing enormous quantities of cents, nickels, and quarters. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins on December 14, 2023, this variety was documented nearly eight decades after production. As the sole spiked head for 1944-D Mercury Dimes, it stands alone in the catalog, and the RPM-003 cross-reference elevates its significance by documenting two distinct die anomalies coexisting on a single die — making it a dual-variety coin of special interest to collectors.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Cross reference: RPM-003, FS-501 “black arrow”. 012/14/2023.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References