SKH-1c-1959D-06 Spiked Head

Description

Cataloged as SKH-1c-1959D-06, this spiked head variety on the 1959-D Lincoln Memorial cent documents a die chip phenomenon that produces a raised spike projecting from Lincoln's head on Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait. Spiked head varieties occur when a small fragment of the die steel fractures and detaches near the portrait area, creating a void in the die surface that fills with metal during striking and appears as a thin raised spike or horn extending from the president's head. The 1959 date holds special significance as the inaugural year of Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse, which replaced the longstanding wheat ears reverse that had been in production since 1909. Denver struck approximately 1.28 billion cents in 1959, a massive output that required hundreds of working die pairs and correspondingly increased the probability of die deterioration artifacts like spiked heads surviving into circulation. Each spiked head variety is unique to its parent die — the specific shape, length, angle, and position of the spike serves as an unrepeatable fingerprint because die fractures follow random paths through the steel's grain structure. Cuds on Coins assigned the SKH-1c-1959D-06 catalog designation, placing this as the sixth documented spiked head variety for the 1959-D cent issue. Collectors examining potential spiked head specimens should use 10-15x magnification and look for a raised projection that appears sharp and metallic rather than the rounded, organic look of a planchet defect or post-strike damage. The spike should exhibit the same luster and surface characteristics as the surrounding design elements, confirming it originated during the striking process.

External References