In 2013 I noticed I find a lot of dimes. I kept track of every dime that I found in 2014 and put each one in a tin on my dresser.
123 dimes in a calendar year is slightly better than 1 find every three days. WTH
 Two examples of the Elks organisation member elks teeth. Worn on pocket watch chains by members in the late 19th and early 20th century. The larger tooth on the left is 1 inch tall by 5/8ths of an inch across in size.  The reverse side of the smaller tooth set in white gold is engraved "J.A.G. No 646". Elks hall number 646 was located in Santa Rosa, California on highway 128 in Sonoma County. Here is a PDF file - A historical account by the Elks on Elks Tooth jewelry. 
 The Soochow Creek medal was a souvenir of China service bought in Shanghai, China by US Navy sailors and Marines. Referred to as a "spoof medal" the artwork shows a Chinese Laborer "coolie" pushing a honey cart. The "honey" cart was slang for the the cart that transported human waste to the farm fields. This waste was used to fertilize crops.  This is a Navy example named to "J.N. BRADFIELD CM 2/C"  Click to enlarge Here is the accompanying US Navy Good Conduct Medal. The pinned on second award bar is engraved "1942" on the front and "JOHN MARTIN BRADFIELD" on the reverse. Originally made 1937 to 1943 in a Latvian factory. It was used by both the Axis and the Allies during World War Two. During the war, production of the Minox was put in jeopardy several times as Latvia fell victim to invasion by the Soviet Union, then Germany, and then by the Soviets again. Cameras were produced under both Russian and German occupation nevertheless, and the camera became both a luxury gift item for Nazi leaders as well as a tool for their spies. There is at least one document in the public record of 25 Minox cameras purchased by the American OSS (Office of Strategic Services) intelligence organisation in 1942. The Minox firm reestablished itself in 1948 in West Germany. Both the Soviets and the West used a camera like this throughout the cold war. The majority of Minox cameras were sold to civilians as a curiosity and somewhat a luxury gadget.  A 1960s version of the famous spy camera. Picture taken with camera "pulled" open.  The accompanying leather case fits the camera like a glove. There is a chain that attaches to the camera body, feeds through the inside and out the back side on the leather case.  This chain is a just over 2 feet long and has metal marking beads - These beads are focal length measurements for ease of surreptitious document photography.
The company is still in existence and makes a modern digital version.  Airmail wing circa 1930. Designed in 1929 by Colonel Britton, Vice President and General Manager of Northwest Airways. The United States Post Office liked the design so much, they adopted it for all airmail pilots regardless of airline affiliation. Northwest pilots still wear a version of this even today. This wing design was also used on US Postal airmail stamps of the day. This wing belonged to E.E. Garbutt who wore this while flying with Varney Airlines out of Portland, Oregon in 1930 and 1931. Varney was one of the 4 airlines that combined to form United Airlines in 1934.  3 1/2 inches across in size. Marked on the reverse side "PATENT APPLIED FOR" in the center, with a "ROLLED GOLD" mark on the right wing.
A countermarked, punchmarked or counterstamped coin is a coin that has had some additional mark or symbol punched into it at some point during its career as a circulating coin. This practice is now obsolete. Countermarking can be done for a variety of reasons. If the currency is reformed, existing coins may be rendered void. In this situation, coins already in circulation could be marked with the new value (according to the new currency system). The life span of existing coins could thus be extended, which might under some circumstances be a cheaper alternative to recalling the coins, melting them and striking replacements. Similarly, foreign coins could be marked as legal or accepted currency, thus allowing them to circulate in the area where they were countermarked. Countermarking can also be done for political reasons, i.e. a new state or régime demonstrating its authority by countermarking coins issued by the previous state.  Click to Enlarge 1880 Colombian cinco decimos coin with a Costa Rican counterstamp on both sides. This stamp was placed on the coin to essentially make it legal tender in Costa Rica for trade. If you look at the second "8" in the 1880 date, it is an overstamp - Where a previous years die was remarked (date changed) for reuse.
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