SKH-1c-2012-08 Spiked Head

Description

Following immediately after its companion variety SKH-1c-2012-07, this eighth cataloged spiked head for the 2012 Lincoln Shield Cent demonstrates that die cracking at the portrait-rim junction was not an isolated incident but a recurring pattern in Philadelphia's cent production. Each spiked head originates from a distinct working die — no two share the same fracture geometry, even when the general location is similar. The uniqueness of each crack pattern is what allows Cuds on Coins to assign individual catalog numbers, since die cracks are as distinctive as fingerprints in their exact path, length, and orientation. For the 2012 cent specifically, eight cataloged spiked heads reflects a moderate count within the broader Shield cent series; later years such as 2015 and 2021 would yield far higher totals. The copper-plated zinc planchet, unchanged since 1982, receives the impression of Brenner's portrait and Bass's Union Shield under modern coining presses. Collectors searching rolls of 2012 cents may encounter either cataloged example, identifiable by the telltale raised line extending from Lincoln's head.

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