SKH-1c-1952S-04 Spiked Head

Description

Listed by Cuds on Coins as SKH-1c-1952S-04, this spiked head variety appears on the 1952-S Lincoln Wheat cent struck at the San Francisco Mint. A spiked head variety occurs when a die crack or die break extends from the top of Lincoln's head upward, creating what appears to be a spike or horn protruding from the portrait. This particular die is cross-referenced to the Cohen Index as 52S-55, an attribution updated on September 26, 2018 after initially being listed as "Not Listed" in two earlier cross-reference attempts dated March 7, 2017. The 1952-S cent was struck in the traditional 95% copper and 5% tin-and-zinc composition, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19 mm diameter. The San Francisco Mint produced 137,800,004 cents in 1952, and the combination of high production volumes and the inherent stresses placed on obverse dies during striking made spiked head varieties a recurring phenomenon throughout the Lincoln cent series. Part of the Lincoln Wheat Cents 1909-1958 series, this variety showcases one of the more visually dramatic die failure types, as the spike protruding from Lincoln's head is often visible to the unaided eye, making it popular with both variety specialists and casual collectors. Victor David Brenner's portrait design, with its detailed hair and head contour meeting the field, creates a natural weak point where die cracks tend to propagate.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index  Not Listed. 03/07/2017. Cross reference number: Cohen Index  Not Listed. 03/07/2017. Cross reference number: Cohen Index  52S-55. 09/26/2018
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References