Back to the Abandoned House- 2 A. Weinman Coins!

[Blind Squirrel]

Howdy--

Being the fateful 18th of April, I had to pay a visit to my CPA. Well, his office is only about a mile from that abandoned house that we hunted last week. I figured that I would load up the V3i and get Kenneth and see if we could squeeze a few more coins out of that front yard. Darn it I did not load up a lawn mower so we had to swing the coil in open spaces. My first signal gave me a 1961-D Roosevelt. Good way to start! Then I dug some memorials and a total of 4 wheat cents - all dated in the 1940's. A man from across the street came over and talked to me about detecting and said that about 30 years ago his father lost a large gold ring in his front yard. I told him I'd be happy to look for it for him. I searched his yard for about an hour with no luck - a few clad dimes and PLENTY of pull tabs and Budwiser bottle caps. I told him that the next time that I'm in the neighborhood that I'll give it another try. It was 90 degrees in the shade and there was no shade so I went back to the truck and drank some ice cold gater aide and rested. for a few minets. About 10 feet from the truck I kicked down some weeds and got a crisp 89-90 reading that pinpointed with 2.5 kHz dominant and dug down about a half inch and was rewarded with one of my favorite coins designed by Adolph A. Weinman - a 1942-D Walking Liberty Half. I dug some more clad and memorials and my last signal of the day gave me another Adolph A. Weinman coin - a 1944 Winged Liberty dime. It VDI'd at a solid 79 at 7 inches with 2.5 kHz dominant. It sure is fun to be the first person with a detector at a good site! I hope that you all have the same experience! Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[sddavid]

Congrats onside nice digs!

 

[After-1-]

Nice story and more great finds to come-----------------------------------------------------after1----------

 

[Elton]

Nice finds. I must admit this is the first post I have read personally that uses the designers name and not the common coin reference.
Just goes to show how varied our hobby is different for people..

 

[Sataro]

Congrats on some very nice finds! I agree with Elton, I think this is the first time that I've seen someone reference a coin back to the designer in a post. Might be some interesting reading to go back & lookup some of these designers.

 

[doc holiday232]

Walking Liberty--most beautiful US coin.

 

[Mcdetect]

Coin most commonly referred to by designer. ..Barber.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

Great hunt Blind squirrel .. ya. Walkers are definitely a piece of art and probably the most common silver half i see posted.. ive only found 3 silver halfs in my career and all were walkers.. congrats...

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks sddavid! Did your snow melt and did you have the chance to try out your new program? Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks After-1-! I sure hope so. But I usually hunt in streaks. I'll have a few good hunts in succession and then have a drought where a good day is digging a 1958 Wheat Cent hahah. Best of luck and ...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks Elton! I know what you mean about my reference to A. A. Weinman. I thought that it would arouse curiosity in some people. I think that it did! Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks Sataro! You got the point of my title of my post!! I've always liked the symbolism and history of A. Weinman's coin designs of 1916. We were on the verge of entering the war in Europe and the designs on the Walking Liberty Half and "Mercury" or Winged Liberty Dime made statements! I am equally fond of Herman A. MacNeil's coin design of 1916. Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks doc holiday232! No arguments here. Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Mcdetect, you are spot on. A reference to a Barber coin elicits visions of V nickles, Liberty Head dimes, quarters and halves. Another coin often referenced by its designer is the Saint- Gaudens $20 Gold (1907-1933). Saint-Gaudens also designed the Indian Head $10 Gold (1907-1933). Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Explorer.se]

Beautiful coins I would not clean them up, gives them character!

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks bootyhoundpa! Yes, silver halves of all types are few and far between. I attribute that to the following:

1) While produced, 50 cents was significant money. If dropped people would look for it.
2) They provide a large target for detectorists.
3) in the late 1970's silver prices approached $50 per ounce. An enthusiastic detectorist could purchase a good detector for around $200 and pay for it in a short time with his silver finds.

Now, I believe, the best place to find silver half's of any type is at old home sites.. Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks Explorer.se! I rinse the surface dirt off and that is as far as I go. I like the original dug look. Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[jd88047]

Knowing the ground has been walked over for 50 years with guys like me with a detector, hard to motivate myself somedays lol. Then it happens, bam what a find.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks jd88047. I know what you mean about detecting sites that have been hard hit for many years. I've had the same experience at sites that I have hunted for years. I'll say : I dug a 1916-S merc there and point to the spot or I dug Great Coat Button there and point to the spot. You get the idea. Now I drive by old neighborhoods in my town or nearby towns looking for vacant lots or vacant houses which are often UNHUNTED sites. At such sites is where I've been digging silver coins and other good finds. Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel