News Editor
 

      On Wednesday, Maleta Barquist of Olds received a memento of her husband, Lawrence, who died in 1978 - his long-lost wallet.
 

      Mace Barnes of Olds, who has made a hobby out of exploring the town with a metal detector, was exploring the yard of a home that used to be owned by Lawrence Barquist's brother, Albert, when the metal detector told him there were coins in the ground. The coins were inside a wallet containing credit cards and other items belonging to Lawrence Barquist. One of the items was a hunting and fishing license for 1968.
 

      "It was one of those odd finds," Barnes said.
 

      Barnes contacted Maleta Barquist and returned the wallet to her. She said she planned to show it to her children.
 

      Barnes has made many interesting discoveries with his metal detector, which he said he has been using in yards and former school yards around the area for about 15 years.
 

      His collection includes many old coins, the oldest of which is a large cent piece dated 1853. He also has a large assortment of rings, toy cars, pins and buttons.
 

      "It's a little like fishing," he said. "You never know what you're going to find."
 

      Some of the more unusual items in his collection include a William McKinley campaign pin from the 1896 election, 5 cent trade tokens from local merchants C.R. Gillaspey and J.W. Eveland from the 1940s or 50s, and a Henry County dog license dated 1926.
 

      Barnes said he has returned several items to families around town, such as ID bracelets and a wedding ring.
 

      He said he found a class ring in another part of the area that, through a series of acquaintances, he was able to track back to its owner, who had lost it a week after receiving it 19 years ago.
 

      "They guy about had tears in his eyes when I gave it back to him," Barnes said.