SKH-1c-1980D-01 Spiked Head

Description

Designated SKH-1c-1980D-01 by Cuds on Coins and dated December 2, 2020 in the catalog records, this spiked head variety documents a die crack or die gouge that extends upward from Lincoln's head on a 1980 Denver Mint Lincoln Memorial cent. Spiked head varieties are among the most visually striking minor die failures in the Lincoln cent series — the term describes any raised line of metal projecting from Lincoln's portrait, typically from the top of the head or forehead area, created when a crack or gouge in the die allows planchet metal to flow into the void during striking. The resulting spike can range from a subtle hair-thin line to a dramatic projection that extends well into the field above Lincoln's bust, and particularly prominent examples have earned colorful collector nicknames. The mechanism is straightforward: as the obverse die accumulates fatigue damage, cracks may develop along stress concentration lines radiating outward from high-relief design elements. Lincoln's hair detail represents one of the deepest recesses in the die (corresponding to the highest relief on the struck coin), making the surrounding die metal particularly susceptible to cracking. SKH-1c-1980D-01 carries no additional cross-references beyond its Cuds on Coins designation. The 1980-D cent was struck from the standard 95% copper alloy at the Denver Mint. Attribution by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert Oney
• Cross reference: none. 12/02/2020.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References