1942 Walking Liberty Proof or Tampering

IMO polished

I'm not an expert, just reiterating advice I've heard a few times on this forum.
1. Luster and wear should be matched. Meaning if it really really bright then it shouldn't have less than AU wear.
2. The interwebs are full of great pics to grade by http://www.PCGS.com/photograde/#/Walker/Grades

Proofs are a mystery to me so I stay away for the most part. I think that a number of early proof have small but significant markers that can clue you in to the true nature of the coin (i.e. proof or touched up business strike).

I personally think your coin looks electroplated. That's my opinion.

It's not slabbed - it's in the airtight holder shown and was in a "velveteen" case.

Keep that coin, and those pics, handy. It's a perfect example of polishing represented by pictures ideal for describing what a polished coin looks like.

Thank Goodness it's only an XF-AU common-date Walker.

yes very over polished, and as joker say's it might be plated...someone really took some time to work that one over!! maybe there's a place on this site where pictures of things like this can be saved and compared too?

I would say it looks more plated than polished.

I'm leaning more towards plating to.

electroplating is a means by which another metal is transfered onto another piece of metal...the subject coin.. most chrome parts are done that way..and you have heard of silverplating, copper bowls and such to make them look like solid silver....