SKH-1c-1959D-05 Spiked Head

Description

Fifth and most recently cataloged spiked head for the 1959 Denver Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent, SKH-1c-1959D-05 was documented in February 2024 — continuing the expansion of known die fill varieties for the inaugural Denver Memorial Cent production. A spiked head occurs when foreign matter becomes trapped in the die cavity near Lincoln's portrait, filling a recess that should be empty and causing a raised spike on the struck coin. Five documented spiked heads from the 1959-D represents the highest count for this date across all mint facilities, a consequence of Denver's large production volume during the first year of the new design. SKH-1c-1959D-05 is cataloged by Cuds on Coins and is not listed in the Cohen Index. Each spiked head is distinguished by the position, angle, and length of the spike relative to Lincoln's portrait, and collectors pursuing the complete 1959-D set now have five entries to locate. The ongoing discovery — with this fifth example cataloged sixty-five years after striking — demonstrates the vitality of die variety research and continued examination of common-date coins by dedicated specialists.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mitch Wilkinson
• Cross reference number:  Cohen Not Listed. 02/12/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References