SKH-1c-2013-15 Spiked Head

Description

With fifteen spiked heads cataloged for 2013 alone, the Lincoln Shield Cent's susceptibility to rim-junction die cracking is well documented. SKH-1c-2013-15 closes out the known census for the year and represents the upper end of what was recorded through systematic die variety research. The count of fifteen exceeds the totals for 2010, 2011, and 2012 individually, hinting at either higher production volume, more aggressive die usage, or simply more thorough cataloging by Cuds on Coins contributors who submit discoveries for classification. Spiked heads belong to the broader family of die cracks, which also includes BIE errors (where a crack between the letters B and E of LIBERTY resembles a capital I) and full rim cuds. What distinguishes a spiked head is its specific location — at or near the portrait — and its visual appearance as a spike or horn rather than a simple hairline fracture. Philadelphia's 2013 cent production maintained the standard copper-plated zinc composition on a 19mm planchet, with Brenner's century-old portrait of Lincoln on the obverse continuing to demonstrate that certain design features inherently concentrate die stress at predictable locations.

External References