SKH-1c-1971D-16 Spiked Head

Description

Distinguished from all other spiked head varieties in the 1971-D Lincoln Memorial cent catalog by a notable secondary die crack on Lincoln's head described as "White Arrows," SKH-1c-1971D-16 carries an attribution detail that makes it one of the most identifiable entries in the entire twenty-one-variety spiked head sequence. Documented on December 27, 2017 and attributed by Cuds on Coins, this variety combines the standard spiked head phenomenon — a die crack emanating from Lincoln's head producing a raised spike in the obverse field — with a separate obverse die crack on the head itself, indicated in the catalog by white arrows in the reference photographs. This secondary crack provides a powerful additional attribution marker: while the spike projecting into the field identifies the coin as a spiked head variety, the die crack on the head narrows the attribution to SKH-16 specifically, eliminating the need for the careful geometric comparison that distinguishes most other sequential spiked head entries. The convergence of two distinct die cracks on a single obverse die — one producing the cataloged spike and another affecting the portrait proper — suggests this die experienced more extensive fatigue cracking than typical single-spike varieties, potentially indicating advanced die deterioration at the time these cracks manifested. For collectors building a 1971-D spiked head set, SKH-1c-1971D-16's "White Arrows" die crack makes it one of the easiest varieties to positively identify, offering a diagnostic shortcut unavailable for the other twenty entries in the catalog.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bob Byrd
• Cross reference: none. 12/27/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References