It’s not unusual for people to drop coins in a Salvation Army red kettle to help those in need, but some coins are worth a lot more than others, according to an AP report. On Friday morning, when Alexandria Salvation Army officials were going through Thursday’s kettle donations, they discovered a gold coin worth about $1,600 and another gold coin believed to be valued at about $400.
Salvation Army Maj. Ken Nelson tells The Town Talk he believes the gold-coin donations were inspired by the recent bicycle thefts. Ten bikes that were to be given to needy children were stolen from a Salvation Army building last week, and the community responded by donating more than 130 bikes and more than $10,000.