SKH-1c-1953D-02 Spiked Head

Description

Denver Mint production of the 1953 Lincoln Wheat Cent yielded its second cataloged spiked head with SKH-1c-1953D-02, reflecting die deterioration near Lincoln's portrait during business-strike coinage. A spiked head develops when a crack or chip at the top of the die's portrait cavity allows metal to flow upward during striking, creating a pointed protrusion extending beyond Lincoln's normal head outline. Each spiked head traces to a unique working die, and the spike's position, angle, and length serve as diagnostics distinguishing one catalog entry from another. The Denver Mint operated alongside Philadelphia and San Francisco during the Wheat Cent era, and its D mintmark appears below the date on the obverse. Struck in 95% copper and 5% tin-and-zinc, the 1953-D belongs to the long-running Lincoln Wheat Cents series produced from 1909 through 1958, pairing Brenner's obverse portrait with his iconic wheat-stalk reverse. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety is best identified under magnification by examining the apex of Lincoln's head for the raised spike characteristic of this error type.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Greg Bowyer
• Cross reference: none. 06/03/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References