SKH-25c-1997P-06 Spiked Head

Description

Sixth documented spiked head variety for the 1997 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter, this die crack variety cataloged by Cuds on Coins on March 22, 2022 produces the distinctive spike-like projection from Washington's head that gives the variety its colloquial name. Cross-referenced as SKH-25c-1997P-06 "Spike Head die crack," the variety results from a die crack that extends from the portrait's head area toward the rim, and when metal fills this crack during striking, a raised spike appears on the finished coin. The mechanism is identical to other die cracks — metal fatigue from repeated high-pressure strikes causes fractures that propagate through the die steel — but the specific location emanating from the head makes these visually dramatic and easy to spot. Six documented spiked heads for a single date indicates considerable collector attention to the 1997-P quarter, which was among the last dates of the standard Washington Clad Quarter design before the 50 State Quarters program launched in 1999 and revolutionized quarter production. The Washington Clad and Silver Proof Quarters series spanning 1965-1998 represents the clad composition era of John Flanagan's original 1932 design, struck after the transition from silver to copper-nickel clad coinage mandated by the Coinage Act of 1965.

Attribution History

• Cross reference: SKH-25c-1997P-06 “Spike Head die crack”. 03/22/2022.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References