SKH-1c-1950-09 Spiked Head

Description

So many spiked head dies exist for the 1950 Lincoln Wheat Cent that the Cohen Index has not cataloged them all — SKH-1c-1950-09 is among those carrying the "Cohen Index Not Listed" designation, meaning this specific die was documented by the Cuds on Coins registry but has not yet been assigned a Cohen reference number. The challenge of comprehensively cataloging spiked head varieties stems from their abundance: any die that develops a crack through Lincoln's portrait qualifies, and the sheer volume of working dies consumed in cent production across a given year generates numerous candidates. Distinguishing one spiked head die from another requires careful measurement of the spike's position, angle, length, and relationship to surrounding design elements — diagnostics that demand side-by-side comparison of multiple specimens from each suspected die. This 1950 business strike from the Philadelphia Mint exhibits the characteristic raised spike extending from Lincoln's head, created when a die crack channels metal upward during striking. The 1950 date is particularly well-documented for spiked head varieties because the resumption of proof production that year attracted heightened collector scrutiny to all 1950 Lincoln Cent die varieties, driving researchers to examine business strikes with the same intensity previously reserved for proof issues.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index Not Listed. 03/18/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References