SKH-1C-2014-09 Spike Head

Description

The transition from single-digit to double-digit catalog numbers tells a story of die failure frequency, and the SKH-1C-2014-09 Spike Head sits at that threshold — the ninth distinct spiked head die identified on the 2014 Lincoln Shield Cent by Cuds on Coins. Every spiked head in the 2014 sequence originates from a different obverse die at the Philadelphia Mint, and together they form a statistical portrait of how often portrait-area die chips occurred during this production year. The mechanism is consistent across all examples: a small piece of die steel separates from the working die near Lincoln's bust, leaving a void that fills with metal during striking. What varies is the chip's position, size, and orientation — some produce long, thin spikes while others create broader, shorter protrusions depending on the geometry of the fracture. Spiked head varieties occupy an accessible niche in the die variety collecting world because they are generally affordable, frequently encountered in circulation, and can be identified with minimal magnification. The extensive 2014 population is particularly appealing to collectors who enjoy comparison studies, as assembling multiple spiked heads from the same date and mint reveals the range of fracture patterns possible within a single production environment.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• SKH-1C-2014-09
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References