This is the bowl I had in my mind when I started on the project to make my newest grand daughter a bowl.  A combination of South American hardwoods, with some purpleheart added in for a feature ring, and a little maple to break up the pattern.  The turning was easy, since the Brazilian mesquite and the weird variety of pecan turn really easy.  Purpleheart is one of the hardest woods on the planet, so it took a little time.

It would have been finished a long time ago, except I got the brilliant idea to inset a 2017 golden dollar coin into the bottom.  I figured if she ever grew tired of the bowl, she could burn it and still have at least a buck or a coin that I don’t think will be around much longer.  That sounded like an easy proposition, except it’s almost impossible to find a golden dollar, let alone one from a specific year.  I tried three banks and the post office, but all I got was raised eyebrows from those behind the counter who were suspicious that anyone would actually WANT a golden dollar coin.

Finally, after 6 months of looking, I called a different bank and they had one coin in the drawer of a teller.  15 minutes later I had the coin in my hand and a smile on my face!  When I got home, the smile was replaced with a series of cuss words as I realized the date on a golden dollar is not on the front of the coin.  It’s not even on the back of the coin.  The brain trust that designed this useless pocket fodder decided to put the date around the edge of the coin.  The edge.  That little bitty strip that no one pays attention to.  If it were inlaid into the bowl, the date would be hidden and there would be no logical reason why it was ever done.  Looking at my nightstand, I had a brand new, shiny 2017 penny and decided that I suddenly liked Abraham Lincoln a lot more than sack-a-whats-her-name, and finished the bowl.

This one is going to Olivia, for sure.  Still not sure what to do with the others…