SKH-1c-1959-01 Spike Head

Description

First documented spiked head on the 1959 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent — the inaugural year of the Memorial reverse design — this variety carries the significant cross-references WDDR-011 and Cohen 59-61, linking it to broader die variety cataloging systems. The WDDR-011 cross-reference indicates this die was also identified as a doubled die reverse variety by the Wexler Team, suggesting the same die pair that produced the spiked head obverse clash also carried reverse hub doubling — a combined variety that significantly enhances collector interest and attribution complexity. The Cohen 59-61 cross-reference provides an additional independent catalog entry in the Cohen system. Cataloged on February 2, 2017, by Cuds on Coins, this proof spiked head occupies a historically resonant position: the 1959 proof cent was the first proof coin to carry Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse, replacing Victor David Brenner's wheat ears that had been used on proofs since 1936. A spiked head on a proof cent is particularly notable because proof dies are prepared to higher quality standards than business strike dies, and die clash events during proof production — where a planchet fails to feed between the polished dies — are less frequent due to the controlled, lower-speed striking process used for proof coins. The spike's appearance on a proof surface creates dramatic visual contrast against the mirror-like fields, making proof spiked heads more visually striking than their business strike counterparts. The combination of first-year-of-type significance, proof quality, spiked head clash variety, and WDDR-011 doubled die reverse cross-reference makes this one of the most attribution-rich entries in the spiked head catalog.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference number: WDDR-011, Cohen 59-61. 02/02/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References