Art Anniversary/Bookending a Body of Work

2 years ago this month, I began experimenting with a new type of art involving cutting coins into pieces and using those scraps to build larger images. The first was political, and I made it during the build-up to the presidential election of 2008.
A few weeks later, I began work on mosaic, 36"x24", with which I wanted to document the shared human predicament of being defined by money from conception.
This piece was always meant to be the first of two similar mosaics, but I became overwhelmed with other project ideas and had to put the second part aside for a spell.

Now, at long last, I've returned to the project and I'm thrilled to say it's nearly completed.

The results could not be more pleasing.

I think I've definitely refined my technique, and have gotten much faster as well.

When I put the silicone onto this mosaic, a few unexpected chemical reactions took place.

Some really crazy cool colors appeared as the curing adhesive reacted with the many money metal alloys.

I had planned to go in later with a patina, but the Universe beat me to it.

Wildest is this brilliant magenta.

So how much money did I use?

Enough to eat for a week, on the right budget.

But not enough to pay a Wireless bill.

Anyway, it's only money.

They'll make more.