SKH-10c-1954-01 Spiked Head

Description

Documented by Cuds on Coins as SKH-10c-1954-01, this spiked head variety on the 1954 Roosevelt Dime features one of the most visually distinctive forms of die deterioration in the series. Spiked heads occur when a die crack or gouge develops near Roosevelt's portrait, creating a spike-like protrusion extending from the head. The raised spike results from planchet metal forced into the defect during striking, producing a sharp linear extension projecting in any direction depending on the underlying flaw's orientation. The effect is often dramatic enough to be visible without magnification, making spiked heads among the most recognizable error types for Roosevelt Dime collectors. The 1954 dime was struck at Philadelphia in 90% silver, the standard composition from 1946 through 1964. John R. Sinnock's portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt, introduced in 1946 to honor the late president's association with the March of Dimes, provides high-relief head detail that makes spiked head varieties particularly conspicuous. As the first cataloged spiked head for 1954, SKH-10c-1954-01 establishes the baseline for this error type on the date.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Cross reference: none. 03/01/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References