SKH-1c-1972D-05 Spiked Head

Description

Autumn brought the fifth addition to the 1972-D spiked head catalog: SKH-1c-1972D-05, attributed by the Cuds on Coins team on October 19, 2017. No cross-references to other attribution services have been documented for this variety. The steady accumulation of spiked head varieties throughout 2017 — from January through October — illustrates how actively the error coin collecting community was examining 1972-D cents during this period, submitting newly identified varieties for formal cataloging. Fifth in sequence, this variety represents yet another unique die crack pattern emanating from Lincoln's head, distinct in its specific geometry from all four preceding entries. Collectors differentiating between spiked head varieties for a single date must compare the spike's exact point of origin on the portrait (top of head, forehead, temple region), its angle of projection, its length, and its width — subtle differences that require comparison against reference images to confirm attribution. The proliferation of spiked head varieties on high-mintage dates like the 1972-D cent reflects a simple statistical relationship: more dies in service means more opportunities for the characteristic head-region cracking to occur, and the 1972-D's approximately 2.67 billion-coin output required an enormous number of die pairs that were often pushed to the limits of their service life. SKH-1c-1972D-05 stands as further evidence that the Denver Mint's 1972 operations prioritized production volume — understandably so given the era's coin shortage concerns — with die quality naturally degrading as production demands intensified.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Sam Hoeser
• Cross reference: none. 10/19/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References