Gold Coin Worth Nearly $2K Dropped Into Salvation Army Kettle

TINLEY PARK, IL - During the Salvation Army's annual kettle drive, bell ringers are used to kind donors placing a few dollars or their extra change into the red kettles. It's not every day, though, that someone drops a gold coin into the pot. However, that's exactly what happened recently.

On Dec. 18, the Salvation Army Blue Island Crossgenerations Corps received a gold coin worth a lot of money. Someone dropped a 1923 $20 Double Eagle gold coin into a red kettle outside the Jewel-Osco at 17117 S. Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park, the organization said in a news release.

The coin was donated in a plastic sleeve with a note stating it is MS (Mint State)-60 grade. The coin is worth an estimated $1,900-$2,000. According to the organization, the generous gift will benefit programs and services at the Salvation Army Blue Island Crossgenerations Corps.

“We are very grateful to the donor who put the gold coin in the kettle,” said Capt. Luis Acosta, corps officer for the Salvation Army Blue Island Crossgenerations Corps. “The value of the coin helps us dramatically toward our goal. Although we are still behind from last year, every coin helps, especially ones like this. The Blue Island Crossgenerations Corps is very thankful for this donation.”

This is the most valuable gold coin that’s been dropped into a red kettle in the Salvation Army Metropolitan Division this season, according to the organization.

Since its kettle drive kicked off this holiday season, the Salvation Army Metropolitan Division has received nine gold coins total. All have been dropped into donation buckets spanning from Rockford to Northwest Indiana in the final days of the red kettle campaign. Christmas Eve is the last day the red kettles will be out on the streets.

The red kettle campaign is a part of the organization’s larger Christmas fundraising campaign that raises funds for more than 50 social service programs throughout the year, including shelter, food, after-school programs and more.

For more information on how to support The Salvation Army’s Fight for Good during the holidays, visit www.salarmychicago.org.