SKH-25C-1996P-12 Spike Head

Description

Die clash mechanics on the 1996 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter produced this twelfth documented spike head variety, SKH-25C-1996P-12. When the coining press cycles without a planchet and the obverse and reverse dies strike each other directly, elements of the heraldic eagle reverse can transfer into the obverse die surface. On subsequent strikes, this transferred detail appears as a raised spike or protrusion extending from Washington's portrait — most commonly from the area around the ponytail ribbon, wig, or forehead of the Flanagan design. Twelve spike heads for a single date and mint combination represents a robust catalog, indicating that multiple die pairs experienced clash events across the year's production. The 1996-P quarter had a mintage of over 925 million coins, requiring hundreds of die pairs and generating substantial opportunity for the occasional planchet feed failure that causes a die clash. Each of the twelve entries documents a unique die pair's clash event, with the spike's precise location serving as the primary differentiator between entries. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, the 1996-P spike heads belong to the final years of the original Washington Quarter reverse design before the State Quarters program began in 1999. Collectors pursuing Washington Quarter spike heads find the mid-to-late 1990s dates particularly productive, as high mintages combined with the bold relief of the 65-year-old Flanagan design created favorable conditions for die clash events to occur and leave visible traces on struck coins.

Attribution History

• SKH-25C-1996P-12
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References