SKH-25c-1999P-04(NJ) Spiked Head

Description

Cataloged as the fourth spiked head for the 1999-P New Jersey quarter — with the skip from -02 to -04 implying that a -03 entry exists elsewhere in the catalog — SKH-25c-1999P-04(NJ) extends the documentation of die defects near Washington's portrait on this early State Quarter issue. Quarter dies experience different stress dynamics than cent dies: the larger 24.3mm diameter distributes force across a greater surface area, but the copper-nickel clad composition and the higher tonnage required to fully strike the design impose their own fatigue patterns. Spiked heads arise when die surface material is displaced or gouged near the portrait's crown, and the raised projection on the struck coin can range from a subtle bump requiring magnification to a bold spike visible to the unaided eye. Photographing spiked heads on quarters demands careful side-lighting to capture the spike's shadow against the surrounding field, as the copper-nickel surface can wash out subtle relief differences under direct illumination. Philadelphia Mint production. Cataloged and verified by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jeff Ylitalo
• Cross reference: none. 08/14/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References