1rst Walking Liberty Half found in old trash pit could use some cleaning advice!

[GulfCoastRelix]

Took a break from metal detecting yesterday to gather up some bottles at an excavated trash pit. Most of the best bottles were still hidden in the huge piles of dirt so I brought along my rake. After about 20 minutes of raking and pulling a few decent bottles a very black and crusty coin just popped out and I almost missed it. I couldn't read anything but could barely make out an eagle so I was excited. After I got home I soaked it and using a toothbrush got as much as I could off but now could recognize it as a 1942 Walking Liberty! I have wanted to find one of these forever how unusual in the way I found it didn't even have my detector with me. What luck. Anyhow here lays the problem. As with most trash pits this one was set fire and I believe it came in contact with another metal that might have bonded with it. I tried electrolysis to try and get what I could off. Although its better the stains are still there. What next? I don't want to ruin this coin and I'm not to saavy on what chemicals would work to remove it without damaging it. Anyhow here are some pics and more of some of the things I recovered. Everything is from the 40's including 14 cokes (1941-1946), 2 Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Nehi's, and some nice milk bottles.

Mike

 

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[skateandcreate]

nice digs! are there any markings on the right side of that toy gun? i've got one i'm tryin to id (real, or toy) kida looks like the same dimensions

 

[njnydigger]

Re: 1rst Walking Liberty Half found in old trash pit could use some cleaning adv

Not an expert on cleaning, but, I'd say just leave it be. Might wind up marring it up a bit more. Maybe someone will chime in with some better advice however.

I'd be thrilled if I were you. Heck, who needs a metal detector?!?!

Those bottles are awesome Way to go on an unusual and rewarding hunt

 

[TooManyHobbies]

Love the Milk Bottle.

 

[GulfCoastRelix]

nice digs! are there any markings on the right side of that toy gun? i've got one i'm tryin to id (real, or toy) kida looks like the same dimensions

Had to get my magnifying glass but its a Edison Giocattoli made in Italy. I cannot find the model number but its needs some more cleaning. I think this one is from the 60's.

 

[Tuberale]

First, congratulations on the half! Them's pretty rare finds, anywhere.

No the bad news. Coin surfaces appear to have pitting. Looks like someone put acid (battery, maybe?) nearby, and the coin appears to my eye to be corroded, making it not really worth more than just the silver value. OTOH, silver is $18+ and ounce right now, and a Walker should have 0.3618 oz. of silver (maybe less for your coin because of the acid), so still worth about $18 x 0.36 = $6.48, give or take a few. Try going to Kitco.com for up to the minute silver prices. No matter how you clean this, it's still going to have those pits on it. So, if you want it to look better, try making a paste of baking soda and rub on the coin. At least some of the crud may come off, along with a minor amount of silver tarnish. Or, you can choose to keep it in the condition you found it in, as a reminder of what and where it was located.

Just my opinion, and I'd prefer to be proven wrong.

 

[mountainplayer]

I agree with njnydigger and tuberale.

Sometimes a coin just isn't ever going to look any better, and you've got to accept that. In my opinion, your coin really doesn't look too bad. Readable date, visible details, just a little bit of black and some pitting. If you just GOTTA try more cleaning, try rubbing with a baking soda paste or toothpaste. Don't think it will do much since you've already tried electrolysis. And you run the risk of making the coin look unnaturally shiny on the clean spots, but it might help a little bit.

If it's any consolation, my only WLH (a 1941) was burned severely in a fire. Won't fit in a coin holder because it isn't flat, and has very little detail left except the date.

MP

 

[Tennessee Treasure Hunter]

Awesome finds Congratulations
TTH

 

[Argentium]

Re: 1rst Walking Liberty Half found in old trash pit could use some cleaning adv

Since you are not dealing with a numismatically important coin here , you might try the method
that Iron patch recommends , a lemon juice soak - you could also try Tarnex - I found it at
Walgreens . Argentium.

 

[GulfCoastRelix]

Re: 1rst Walking Liberty Half found in old trash pit could use some cleaning adv

Since you are not dealing with a numismatically important coin here , you might try the method
that Iron patch recommends , a lemon juice soak - you could also try Tarnex - I found it at
Walgreens . Argentium.

Thanks I think I will try that.
Mike

 

[nova]

The pretty lady was dumped in a trash pit. Put her in a 2x2 flip and keep her as is. Just my 50 cents worth. 8)

 

[Mr Tuff]

sweet bottles!!!! nice silver!!! MR TUFF

 

[{Sentinel}]

If you're set on cleaning it, use some baking soda and rub it in with your finger or a toothbrush.

Take a look at this Walker that I found in a little spill. There's a before and after pick....Used baking soda.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,332387.msg2393590.html#msg2393590

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

If you used electrolysis already then that is probably the best you'll get. You could try to Zap it again but that may start to cause damage. I'd leave it alone now....

Great finds !!

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[Deepdiger60]

Nice finds try soaking that half in lemon juice it should get most of the crud off it still has a lot of good detail left on it ,that milk bottle is awesome that is when milk was the real deal unlike today its all junk Good hunt Dd60

 

[NHBandit]

Very cool finds. The good news about the Walker is that it's the perfect coin to experiment on with cleaning methods. One of the most common dates so you won't lose any value if you make it worse. The mid 40s dates are regularly bought & sold for the bullion value no matter what the condition. It would be a crying shame to find a rare date that looked like it had been through a fire.

 

[Detectingfreak]

Nice job on the Walking liberty half dollar! love the bottles too!

 

[drplaztics]

I'm in your boat as I found my very first WLH this past Saturday (a 1945). Unfortunately it has been hit by a lawnmower in three different areas on it's edges. Still very exciting to find.

I've seen on youtube.com how to clean silver with aluminium foil, baking soda, and almost boiling water. You could try this since the coin is a keepsake and not collectible.

 

[crazyjarhead]

Love them old soda bottles. Looks like a good place to continue to hunt. As far as the coin? Looks like it is stained. May not be able to do a lot with it. Maybe the old lemon juice might clean it up a bit. Good luck with it.

 

[Wldbil]

Great finds... The milk bottle is really cool!!!