SKH-50c-1996P-03 Spiked Head

Description

Third spiked head for the 1996 Philadelphia Mint Kennedy Half Dollar, this variety brings the 1996-P date to a notable count for a denomination where spiked heads are far less frequently documented than on Lincoln Cents. When the obverse and reverse dies of a Kennedy Half Dollar contact each other during a planchet feed failure, elements of the heraldic eagle reverse — with its detailed wings, shield, stars, and lettering — can transfer into the obverse die bearing Gilroy Roberts's portrait of President Kennedy, creating a raised spike or horn-like projection from Kennedy's profile. Three spiked heads documented for a single Kennedy Half Dollar date indicates that multiple die pairs experienced clash events during the 1996-P production run, a meaningful count given the half dollar's relatively modest production volumes compared to cents. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins under the cross-reference SKH-50c-1996P-03, this variety extends into the mid-1990s a catalog of Kennedy Half Dollar spiked heads that documents die clash activity across the denomination's production history. The 1996-P Kennedy Half Dollar was struck in copper-nickel clad composition during a period when half dollar production served primarily collector and institutional demand rather than everyday commerce, as the denomination had largely disappeared from retail transactions. The reverse design's heraldic eagle with its detailed feather work and surrounding design elements creates transferred clash impressions with characteristics distinct from those produced by Lincoln Cent reverses, giving Kennedy Half Dollar spiked heads their own diagnostic character within the broader spiked head collecting specialty.

Attribution History

• SKH-50c-1996P-03
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References