Walking Liberty
USA Walking Holidays in New York
Here is a brief guide to some of the attractions you can visit while walking in the USA's famous cities of Chicago and New York.
A USA Walking Holiday in Chicago
"The Windy City" on the shores of Lake Michigan has a rich mix of cultures and a history of music, being famous for its Blues. Chicago has a dramatic skyline which includes the neck-achingly high Sears Tower, now known as the Willis Tower. This was once the tallest building in the world, and remains the tallest in the USA. Walking in Chicago's streets, you will be struck by the number and scale of the skyscrapers here, in a city which invented the skyscraper.
The city's good public transport will help with your sightseeing, which should include a visit to some of the many museums here. One of the finest is the Art Institute of Chicago, which has an amazing collection of paintings. Some of its notable acquisitions include Edward Hopper's hazy, night time image of "Nighthawks" in a lonely bar, and Vincent Van Gogh's colourful "Bedroom in Arles."
A Walk in New York
The Statue of Liberty is a popular attraction and an unmistakable icon of the USA. Walking around its base on Liberty Island, you will appreciate the lady's sheer size. From the ground to the tip of her torch is 93 metres, and her standing height from her sandals to her crown (not including her plinth) is 34 metres. Visitors can walk up inside Liberty's structure and look out from her crown, but you should expect to queue for a few hours because of the attraction's popularity.
The statue was a symbol of hope and welcome to immigrants arriving by boat and preparing to walk on American soil for the first time. Their first port of call though was Ellis Island. For sixty years, Ellis Island was the gateway for all immigrants arriving in America. Walking around the museum you will get a sense of the variety of the immigrants' origins, and the desperation and aspirations that brought them to the New World.
You can get a wonderful view of New York City walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. When the bridge was built in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and there was nothing taller in the USA. Walking across the East River, you can get a good vantage point of Manhattan, seeing as far as Wall Street and the museums of Upper East Side.
You won't believe the bright lights of Times Square. The huge neon advertisements are a spectacle to see, especially at night. This is a vibrant part of the city with the sidewalks and pedestrian area thronging with tourists and street vendors. New York City is so rich with culture that you may struggle to fit in everything you want to see. As well as other sightseeing favourites such as the Staten Island Ferry, Central Park and the Rockefeller Center, there are many world-famous museums, Broadway's shows, and miles of shops to explore while walking in America.
For a very different atmosphere, a train ride out of the city to the New York State countryside will introduce you to rural USA, walking in the historic colonial villages that were settled by Europeans when America was young. You can see some of the oldest buildings in the country and the picturesque villages of the Hudson River Valley.
About the Author
Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. They are dedicated to providing the very finest
walking USA
can offer at the best value prices.
how much is a 1937 walking liberty half dollar worth in tarnished condition?
also how much do you think a 1946 penny is worth in good condition.
You didn't mention the mintmark but according to the 2008 redbook, they start at $6 in good condition and can go as high as $1650 for a proof condition one.
1 - Take your coin to a local coin dealer (trustworthy ones can be found - shop around). It never hurts to get a second opinion. They will be able to tell you so much more by evaluation the condition of the coins. They will also know the amount minted and what it is going for in today's market.
2 - Try posting pictures on this website (there are many experts here that can help you evaluate it - there also may be people willing to buy if you are trying to sell):
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/default.asp
3 - Repost this question and include pictures. You can use websites like http://www.photobucket.com and include the link in your question.
Good luck!
P.S. You should not clean your coins. Most coin collectors see cleaning a coin as the equivalent of stripping down antique furniture and refinishing it.
When cleaning, the surface metal of the coin is often stripped. Anything used to scrub the coin will leave scratches (even 100% pure silk will leave hairline scratches). Most cleaning products will have some type of reaction with the coin's metal and the surface metal can also be removed in this manner.
Your best bet is to leave the coins alone. Cleaning the coin will leave traces - which can be found by the knowledgeable collector - who in turn will not buy the cleaned coin. Also if you ever wanted to send your coin into a grading company, they can recognize signs of cleaning and will send your coin back in a "cleaned" slab (also called a "body bag" in the coin world) - which is usually a greatly decreased value.
If you absolutely must must must clean your coins do not use the method described above as it will react with the metal in your coin. Use 100% acetone (do not use fingernail polish remover!). It must be 100% pure because other additives will react with the coin metal. Place your coin(s) in the solution for several minutes (do not leave in for long periods of time). Rinse your coin(s) in distilled water. Next remove your coins and either pat dry with a soft cloth or allow the coin to air dry (air drying is better as you don't risk scratching the coin with the cloth). NEVER scrub your coins!
I would still advise you to leave your coins as they are. They may not be bright and shiny but that is what most collectors prefer.