SKH-1c-1950-04 Spike Head

Description

Dozens of spiked head dies have been documented for the 1950 Lincoln Wheat Cent across both proof and business strike production, and SKH-1c-1950-04 — cross-referenced as Cohen Index 50-55 — represents one entry in this extensive catalog of die crack varieties for the date. The sheer number of documented spiked head dies for 1950 reflects both the volume of die pairs consumed during that year's production and the intensity of collector and researcher scrutiny applied to this date, which was the first year proof coins were offered after the wartime and postwar suspension. This proof striking exhibits the characteristic raised spike projecting from Lincoln's head, a feature created when a die crack intersects the portrait area and channels metal upward during the high-pressure proof striking process. Cohen Index number 50-55 places this die within the broader sequence of all documented 1950 Lincoln Cent die varieties, not just spiked heads, confirming its position within the established attribution framework. The 1950 proof set — offered to collectors by mail order at $2.10 per set — had a modest mintage of 51,386 pieces, meaning any die variety within that proof production is constrained to a small maximum population. Each spiked head die produces a spike of slightly different length, angle, and position, making side-by-side comparison essential for accurate attribution.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index 50-55. 03/18/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References