Coin dropped in Salvation Army kettle worth $1,400

[December 27, 2010]  BROOMFIELD, Colo. (AP) -- A valuable gold coin dropped into a Salvation Army kettle outside a Colorado Walmart resembles similar rare coins donated across the nation.

Salvation Army bell ringer Clair Harger found the unusual coin in her kettle in Broomfield Wednesday. The charity investigated and found it was a 1983 South African Krugerrand coin worth $1,400.

Similar valuable Krugerrands have turned up in Salvation Army kettles in Florida, Indiana and Washington. A Kruggerand was also dropped in a kettle in Boulder last year.

Harger, who has been a bell ringer for three years, tells the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder that she noticed the man's coin was an unusual one and even asked him if it was a Krugerrand. Harger says the man said "no" and walked away.

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Information from: Daily Camera, http://www.dailycamera.com/

[Associated Press]

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