SKH-1c-1962D-01 Spiked Head

Description

The Spiked Head variety on Lincoln cents results from a die crack or die break that extends outward from Lincoln's head, creating a spike-like projection that rises above the normal profile of the bust. These formations occur when stress fractures propagate through the die steel in the high-relief area surrounding the portrait, where the repeated force of striking concentrates along the contours of the design. As the crack develops, struck coins receive a raised line or spike in the corresponding area — a feature that ranges from a subtle hair-thin projection to a bold, easily visible spike depending on the severity and orientation of the underlying die fracture. SKH-1c-1962D-01 is the first of three documented Spiked Head varieties for the 1962-D Lincoln Memorial Cent, cataloged by Cuds on Coins with a cross-reference to the Cohen Index as 62D-54C, indicating its position within the broader Cohen die-crack classification system for this date. The Denver Mint's massive 1962 production run of over 1.79 billion cents subjected dies to extraordinary cumulative stress, making head-area die cracks a predictable consequence of extended die life. Among Lincoln cent collectors, Spiked Head varieties have earned a devoted following for their dramatic visual impact — the spike transforms the familiar Lincoln profile into something immediately eye-catching, even at low magnification. Collectors should examine the area around Lincoln's head on 1962-D cents, looking for any raised projection that extends beyond the normal hair or forehead outline.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Cross reference: Cohen Index 62D-54C. 09/04/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References