SKH-1c-1955-01 Spike Head

Description

Cataloged as SKH-1c-1955-01 in the Cuds on Coins spiked head registry and cross-referenced as Cohen Index 55-5, this 1955 proof Lincoln Wheat Cent displays a die crack through Lincoln's portrait that produced a raised spike extending from his head. The Cohen Index assignment provides an independent attribution anchor within the established Cohen die variety reference for Lincoln Cents, linking this Cuds on Coins catalog entry to the broader variety literature. Spiked head varieties result from die cracks that intersect the portrait in a way that channels metal into the fracture during striking, creating a visible projection that ranges from subtle fins to dramatic spikes depending on crack width and depth. As a proof striking from the Philadelphia Mint, this coin benefits from the controlled production environment that yields sharper impressions of die anomalies than circulation-strike counterparts. The 1955 Lincoln Wheat Cent holds a prominent place in error coin collecting due to the famous 1955 Doubled Die Obverse, and while this spiked head variety represents an entirely different class of die failure, the date's popularity ensures sustained collector attention across all variety types. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait of Abraham Lincoln, in continuous use since 1909, provides the canvas for this die crack anomaly.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index 55-5. 03/24/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References