SKH-1c-1991-13 Spiked Head

Description

Reported on January 12, 2021, SKH-1c-1991-13 of the 1991 Lincoln Memorial cent is accompanied by a reverse die crack notation that serves as a critical die state marker for attribution purposes. A die crack documents a specific moment in a die's deterioration history — once formed, a crack is permanent and appears on every coin subsequently struck by that die, providing an indelible fingerprint that links all coins from a particular die state. When a spiked head variety also carries a reverse die crack, the crack helps attributors determine which specific die pair they are examining: among 19 cataloged spiked heads for the 1991-P date, multiple varieties may produce visually similar obverse spikes, but the presence or absence of specific reverse die cracks narrows the identification to a particular die pair and stage of use. Die state markers like cracks are cumulative — they can grow longer, wider, or branch into new paths, but they never heal or disappear — making them reliable chronological indicators within a die's production sequence. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, weighing 2.5 grams and measuring 19mm.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jeff Ylitalo
• Cross reference: none. 01/12/2021.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References