Undated Blacksmith Copper. The Willie Nelson Head. Wood-Unlisted, Charlton BL-Unlisted, Haxby-Unlisted. Very Fine. 124.6 grains. A new Blacksmith copper, reportedly found in upstate New York near the Canadian border and previously unrecorded by the collecting fraternity for the century and more that these lowly coppers have been actively pursued and researched. Dubbed the "Willie Nelson Head" by a prominent dealer in Americana to whom we showed this new find, the profile featuring a protruding chin that appears to be bearded and a huge, nearly Pinocchio-like nose! The bust is apparently in imitation of one of the worn out, left-facing George II coppers that was undoubtedly still in circulation in early 19th century Canada, the long ribbon ends providing a defining characteristic of the imitation; as is normal for the Blacksmith series, there does not appear to be any central definition in the obverse effigy. We believe this to be wholly uniface, as are other Blacksmith coppers like the similarly unique but lesser quality Charlton BL-22 recently sold as part of the Doug Robins Collection for nearly $4,000. Dark chestnut-brown and smoothly worn, this Blacksmith displays a slight wave to the planchet and some as made planchet flaws, chiefly on the right obverse and right reverse when rotated along the horizontal axis. The acquisition of this copper would be a coup for an advanced collector of Blacksmith coppers.
