SKH-1c-2022-06 Spiked Head

Description

Sixth in the 2022 spiked head sequence, SKH-1c-2022-06 is one of six entries from this year included in the current batch — numbers five through ten — providing an unusually complete snapshot of a single year's die cracking record. Having six of ten cataloged varieties invites comparison, though the critical distinction between entries lies not in catalog numbers but in the physical characteristics of each die's fracture. Die cracks propagate along crystallographic planes within the steel, influenced by grain size, carbide distribution, and residual stresses from hardening. Two dies from the same steel batch and heat-treated identically can still crack in different locations because their micro-structural landscapes differ at the scale relevant to fracture initiation. This metallurgical randomness makes each spiked head unique despite their shared mechanism. The 2022 Lincoln Shield Cent maintained standard specifications, and Philadelphia's high-speed presses continued feeding copper-plated zinc planchets between Brenner's obverse die and Bass's Shield reverse die at rates of several hundred strikes per minute. Cuds on Coins recorded this sixth instance for the year.

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