SKH-1c-1955-02 Spike Head

Description

The year 1955 holds iconic status in Lincoln Cent error collecting as the date of the famous 1955 Doubled Die Obverse — one of the most celebrated error coins in American numismatics — and while this proof spike head variety represents an entirely different class of die anomaly, the date's prominence ensures that all 1955 Lincoln Cent varieties command heightened collector attention. Cataloged as SKH-1c-1955-02 in the Cuds on Coins registry and cross-referenced as Cohen Index 55-10, this proof Lincoln Wheat Cent exhibits a die crack through Lincoln's portrait that produced the characteristic raised spike. Cohen Index 55-10 places this variety early in the sequence of documented 1955 die varieties, suggesting it was among the first cataloged for the date. As a proof striking from the Philadelphia Mint, this coin was produced on specially polished planchets using polished dies, creating the mirror-like fields and frosted design elements that provide exceptional contrast for observing die crack features. The 1955 proof set had a mintage of 378,200 — a substantial increase from the early 1950s proof production levels — reflecting growing collector demand for proof coinage. Spike head varieties on proof 1955 cents offer an alternative avenue into this storied date for collectors who cannot acquire the far more expensive Doubled Die Obverse.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: Cohen Index 55-10. 03/24/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References