SKH-1c-1963D-01 Spiked Head

Description

Known to collectors as a spiked head variety, the 1963-D Lincoln Memorial Cent SKH-1c-1963D-01 features one or more raised spike-like projections extending from the top of Lincoln's head on the obverse, created by die cracks or die breaks that developed in the recessed field area above the portrait and filled with metal during the striking process. Spiked head varieties are a subcategory of die break errors that are distinctive because of their dramatic visual effect: the spike appears as a thin raised line or horn projecting upward from Lincoln's hair, giving the portrait an unmistakable altered silhouette that many collectors find visually striking. The severity of spiked head varieties ranges from barely perceptible hairline spikes to bold projections that extend well into the field above the head, and the visual impact of any given specimen depends on the size of the underlying die crack and the stage of die deterioration at the time of striking. This particular variety is cataloged as SKH-1c-1963D-01 and attributed by Cuds on Coins, with the listing dated March 20, 2024. No additional cross-references are currently known. Spiked head varieties are part of a broader family of die break errors that includes BIE die breaks, cud errors, and interior die breaks, all of which result from the progressive failure of die steel under the repeated stress of high-speed coin production. The 1963-D cent was struck at the Denver Mint with a total production of 1,774,020,400 pieces on 95% copper and 5% zinc planchets, carrying Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait and Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse design.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert Oney
• Cross reference: none. 03/20/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References