SKH-10c-1953-01 Spike Head

Description

An unusual spiked head on a Roosevelt Dime rather than the more commonly seen Lincoln Cent, SKH-10c-1953-01 documents a die crack radiating outward from Roosevelt's portrait on a 1953 Philadelphia issue struck in 90% silver. Spiked heads form when a die crack extends from the head area of the portrait, creating a thin raised line on struck coins that resembles a spike or horn projecting from the figure's head. While this error type is well known on Lincoln Cents, its appearance on a Roosevelt Dime makes it a crossover variety of particular interest to dime specialists and die break collectors alike. The sole documented spiked head for the 1953 dime, this variety also features a reverse die crack noted in the original documentation with reference to adjacent arrow elements — providing a secondary diagnostic for attribution. John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt portrait, introduced in 1946, presents a different head profile than Lincoln's, and die cracks emanating from Roosevelt's relatively smooth cranial area produce a distinctive visual effect. The 1953 dime was struck during the final era of circulating silver coinage, and Cuds on Coins cataloged this variety in October 2018.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Cross reference: none. 10/15/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References