SKH-1c-1952-09 Spike Head

Description

Ninth spiked head variety documented for the 1952 Lincoln wheat cent by the Cuds on Coins attribution service, SKH-1c-1952-09 records a die chip anomaly on a proof specimen — a significant distinction since proof coins are struck using specially polished dies and carefully prepared planchets for collector sets rather than circulation. Philadelphia produced proof cents for inclusion in the annual proof sets, which in 1952 had a mintage of approximately 81,980 sets — a relatively small production compared to the hundreds of millions of circulation-strike cents produced the same year. The occurrence of a spiked head on a proof die is noteworthy because proof dies receive more careful inspection and are typically retired earlier than circulation dies, meaning die deterioration varieties on proof coins are generally scarcer than their circulation-strike counterparts. Spiked heads develop when a fragment of die steel breaks away from the area adjacent to Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait, creating a void in the die that stamps a raised projection onto every coin struck from that die. The "09" suffix indicates eight previous spiked head dies have been cataloged for the 1952 cent date, though the distinction between proof and circulation-strike specimens within that census affects the relative scarcity of each variety. The proof surface characteristics — mirrored fields and frosted design elements — provide exceptional visual contrast that can make the raised spike dramatically visible against the reflective field, as the spike's raised surface catches light differently from the surrounding mirror finish. Collectors examining 1952 proof cents should look for any raised projection extending from Lincoln's head into the adjacent field under 8-12x magnification, noting that the proof finish amplifies the visual impact of even small die chips.

External References