Silver & Lead...

[Blind Squirrel]

Howdy--

My last few of hunts were at a vacant lot in the older part of town where a house had recently burned down. All that remained was the foundation and a shed in the back yard. I had secured permission from the current owner of the property to swing the V3i. After offering to return any lost items, he happily said that I could keep anything that I found. Okay, music to my ears! I dug $5.46 in clad and memorials, a 1945-D Walking Liberty half, 2 silver Rosevelts, a few wheat-cents, and a couple of .45 ACP rounds. The unusual find was a total of 110 unfired .223 rounds! The .223 ammo was in a pile on the corner of the foundation. I later learned that the previous owner was a gun collector and careless smoking caused the fire. When the fire department got there exploding ammo prevented them from getting too close and the house was a total loss. After my last hunt at that site, I moved on to a nearby vacant lot and dug the CREED STERLING St. Christopher medal.

At the "ammo site" I was using the White's 9.5 coil and at the next site (very trashy), I used the 6X10 DD coil.

Best of luck and ...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Explorer]

Nice finds Blind Squirrel! Still looking for my first Walking Liberty half.

 

[Rob (IL)]

Halves are rare. I was to see several posted recently. Great hunting. More guys need to encourage people with their finds.

 

[RCGoodin]

That St. Christopher medal got me through Viet Nam, Aug of 70 to Aug 71.

 

[texjim]

One of these days i'll find a Walker half. Awesome job..

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks Jimmy. It took me about 3 years before I dug my first Walking Liberty Half. Just keep swinging the coil and you will get yours!

Best of luck and ...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks for your service RCGoodin. I keep a St. Christopher medal that I dug years ago in my wallet. Finds such as this are very special to me.

Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks Rob. I think that one of the reasons for the scarcity of silver half finds is that during the late '70's when the price of silver spiked at nearly $50 per ounce, many people purchased detectors and picked up the "easy finds".

Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Thanks Explorer. Keep swinging the coil and your Walking Liberty Half is sure to come!

Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Rob (IL)]

I also can't remember the last time I had a half in my pocket or got one in change. Many register don't even have a bin for halves. Little use adds to their rarity.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Right Rob. Also the introduction of clad coinage was a significant factor. As I recall, after clad began circulating the silver coinage in circulation began to disappear. Even in the late '60's common U.S. silver coinage sold at above face value. The silver halves were the first to go. I've had my best luck at digging silver halves at home sights or vacant lots that were active home sights pre-1965.

Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[BluesCruise]

Great finds! Hang onto that ammo, getting harder to find. Love the St. Christophers piece.

Happy hunting!

Ron