New Years Bread--Vasilopita

I'm getting all of the ingredients together today so that I'm prepared to make the best ever recipe for Vasilopita, or New Year's Bread.  I've had so many variations of this bread as the Greeks continue to "cut the pita" for even two months after New Years Day. One "cuts the pita" with co-workers, church groups, extended family, as well as groups of friends.  This makes for many chances to get the coveted coin with all of it's good fortune for the coming year. Actually, just eating this bread with its cake like texture is a real blessing!   As you cut your New Year's bread this year, I hope you all get the coin!  Happy New Year and God bless us, everyone!!

Vasilopita
5 cups flour
1/2 cup lukewarm milk
1 cup butter, melted
6 eggs, slightly beaten
2 packages yeast, dissolved in
1/2 cup wawrm water, pinch of sugar
2 cups sugar
1/2 teas. salt
1 teas. cinnamon
1/2 teas. nutmeg
1 tables. grated orange peel
blanched almonds
sesame seeds
egg yolk
1 coin, wrapped in aluminum foil

Put the flour in a large bowl; make a well in the center of the flour. Combine the milk, yeast and water, melted butter, eggs, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel and mix with a wooden spoon until well blended.  Work these ingredients into the flour with your hands until thoroughly blended.  Place dough on a lightly floured board and knead until the dough is smooth and firm, adding more flour as necessary.  Place dough in a greased bowl, brush it with melted butter, cover, and allow to rise in a warm place for two hours.  Knead again on a floured board; shape dough into round loaf, bury a coin in the dough, place on a greased baking sheet, cover with a towel, and allow to rise again in a warm place for one hour.  When dough has risen the second time, brush with egg yok, sprinkle generously with sesame seeds and arrange the almond to form the number of the new
year.  Bake at 350 F./180C. for one hour.  There is a special ceremony that accompanies this bread.  The head of the house slices the bread at midnight, as the New Year rings in, and the finder of the coin will be blessed with good fortune.  This bread stays really moist for several days. It is really good toasted and served with butter for
breakfast!