First noted by Alan Hager who called them "Hair Locks", this die-clash dagger-like convex feature on Ike's temple varies from subtle to stark.  The "Talon Head" is best seen on 1971-D, 1972-D and 1974-D Ikes where its incidence is roughy one in 50. 

The Talon Head is a die-clash image  -  specifically it is caused by the same shaped feature on the reverse die that corresponds to the deep depresion we see on the reverse of an Ike between the eagle's legs.  On the reverse die this feature actually rises above the level of the field.  I call it a "die hammer".  When the dies clash it reaches up into the concavity on the obverse die that corresponds to Ikes head and knocks against the center of his temple.  It is this talon-shaped depression on the obverse die that leaves the convex Talon Head image on subsequently struck Ike dollars.

          HOW NEAT IS THIS!

Left picture is an amazing single Talon Head.  Right image is a double Talon Head.  Less dramatic Talon Heads are best seem by rotating the Ike as if checking its luster.

You can read about this die-clash image and other die-clash images in my article published in the Winter edition of the ANA Journal, Advanced Studies in Numismatics, "Eisenhower Dollar "talon Heads" and Other Die Clash Artifacts".

Rob Ezerman