SKH-1c-1997-06 Spiked Head

Description

With six spiked heads cataloged for 1997, the year presents a notably lower count than the twenty-plus documented for both 1995 and 1996. SKH-1c-1997-06 records the sixth and highest known sequence number, closing out the year's census at a total that could reflect improved die management, reduced production volume, or simply fewer submissions to the Cuds on Coins catalog during this period. Regardless of cause, six distinct dies each cracked at the portrait-rim junction — a constant reminder that the fundamental geometry of Brenner's high-relief bust guaranteed some level of fatigue failure in every production year. The 1997 Philadelphia cent was the thirty-eighth year of Memorial reverse production and carried no mintmark, as was standard for the facility. On copper-plated zinc planchets, these coins entered circulation by the billions, and the small percentage struck from cracked dies carried raised spikes that went unnoticed by all but the most attentive observers. Die variety collectors who systematically examine rolls from this era occasionally surface spiked heads that may extend the known count beyond six.

External References