Shield Nickels: Spiked Ball?

All,

I've seen this same spike on several different years. Here are a couple of them. It doesn't really look like a MPD - and doesn't seem to be a die clash (from what is on the reverse) - or perhaps I'm mistaken? Any idea what causes the spiked ball?

 

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Maybe it's related to the thin die crack . Small chip ?

 

I am in the small die chip camp. Some dies have common areas of weakness, and they tend to break in almost the same spot. One that comes to mind is the bottom of the torch on a Roosevelt dime.

 

That might explain why I've seen them almost identically on a variety of dates.

 

The "5"s flag tip is what youre seeing in the ball. Mpd

 

thanks, but that would mean that the same mark on the 1879 would be from something else then?

 

Yes of course...there are more varieties of Shield Nickels "NOT found or attributed '' then there are known varieties. They are a treasure trove of varieties

I've cherry picked 2 1876 bleeders.