SKH-1c-2016-16 Spiked Head

Description

Sixteenth spiked head for the 2016 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent, this variety reveals that the 2016-P date generated a substantial number of die clash events during its production run. Sixteen spiked heads from a single year requires at least sixteen separate die pairs to have experienced clashes — instances where the coining press cycled without a planchet and the Union Shield reverse contacted the obverse die, transferring raised design elements that manifest as spikes on Lincoln's portrait. The progression from SKH-1c-2016-01 through -16 traces the accumulation of documented clash events as researchers examined more 2016-P cents. Each entry is distinguished by the unique characteristics of its spike: position on Lincoln's profile, angle of projection, and length relative to the portrait's contour. Philadelphia Mint cent production in 2016 consumed hundreds of die pairs across billions of coins, making the sixteen-entry count consistent with statistical expectations for clash frequency. SKH-1c-2016-16 is cataloged by Cuds on Coins. The Shield Cent's production era has generated spiked head counts per date that substantially exceed those documented for the Memorial Cent era, likely attributable to the Shield reverse's deeper and more geometric relief compared to the architectural Lincoln Memorial design.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Amy Antone
• Cross reference: none. 05/26/2020.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References