SKH-1c-1983D-02 Spiked Head

Description

Carrying the cross-reference JCc-1883D_034, SKH-1c-1983D-02 is the second spiked head variety documented on the 1983 Denver Lincoln Memorial cent. The die crack responsible for this spike extended from Lincoln's head in a direction and at an angle distinct from the first census entry, confirming its origin from a different obverse die. Spiked head varieties arise from the progressive structural failure of the die steel in the region immediately above Lincoln's highest hair detail — a zone where the die's working surface transitions from the recessed design cavity to the flat field area, creating a stress concentration point vulnerable to cracking under sustained striking pressure. When a crack propagates upward and widens through continued use, each subsequent strike forces planchet metal into the crack, building the raised spike that defines the variety. The copper-plated zinc composition of all 1983 Denver cents means the spike presents as a seamless copper-toned protrusion, indistinguishable in surface color from the surrounding design but readily apparent as an anomalous raised element extending beyond Lincoln's normal hair profile. The height and prominence of the spike typically increase as the die crack deepens, and early-stage specimens may show only a subtle bump while late-stage examples can exhibit dramatic horn-like projections. Attribution by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross reference: none. JCc-1883D_034, 03/22/2016
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References