TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - An anonymous donor left a unique gold coin in a Salvation Army red kettle Thursday in Green Valley.
The Canadian coin was found wrapped in a dollar bill at a Green Valley Walgreens. After a little research, the Salvation Army Tucson believes it's worth a little more than $1,000. But this isn't the first time they've received something unique.
For years, The Salvation Army Tucson would always find a South African gold coin in one of the red kettles, worth about $1,500 according to Shawna Kroh, public relations director with The Salvation Army Tucson. She says they think the same donor dropped the Canadian gold coin found last week.
The donor has stayed anonymous all these years but The Salvation Army Tucson thinks it's the same person since both the South African coin and the Canadian coin were found at the same red kettle location.
The one ounce coin found Thursday has Queen Elizabeth II on one side and a Canadian maple leaf on the other. It's the most valuable single item The Salvation Army Tucson has received this season.
In early December near Boston, an anonymous donor dropped a diamond engagement ring worth $3,500 in a red kettle and a Minnesota couple left a check worth $500,000.
All of it will go toward programs and services The Salvation Army offers.
"It's neat to have something different in the kettle," said Kroh. "It's also neat that it's valuable so it can actually turn into dollars and help us with our programs."
Some of those programs locally include Operation Deep Freeze, food boxes and school supplies for kids in the summer.
Other than the South African coin, The Salvation Army Tucson says in past years they've also received both men and women's wedding bands, worth a few hundred dollars each.
