Coin Turns Red Kettle Into Pot of Gold

It wasn't what suburban Chicago Salvation Army workers sorting through loose change expected to find at the bottom of a kettle.

But last week employees uncovered a rare treasure wrapped inside a $2 bill: a 1 ounce gold South African Krugerrand coin worth about $1,200, reported The Beacon-News.

"It was like carrying the Super Bowl trophy of donations," Maj. Robert Hall told the newspaper.

This isn't the first time an anonymous benefactor dropped a gold coin in the red tin kettles.

Just last year, the same Chicago Salvation Army found four smaller gold coins in its buckets.

Th new donation will go toward the chapter's goal of $211,000 in kettle collections.

"We are already $1,000 ahead with just this coin," Lt. Rick Garcia told the newspaper. "It's a relief and a blessing. We're glad someone is listening to our bells."

Go to The Beacon-News for the full story.