Anonymous donor gives gold coin to Salvation Army

The local Salvation Army struck gold Tuesday in one of its red kettles. An anonymous donor dropped a $10 U.S. gold coin in a Salvation Army kettle outside West Park Mall.

"It is one-fourth ounce pure gold," said Salvation Army Maj. Ben Stillwell.

He said he plans to sell the coin, which is worth far more than its face value. Proceeds will go to the Salvation Army, he said.

Stillwell said a check of two coin dealers indicated the coin is worth $125 to $130.

But Mike Sprouse, owner of River City Coins and Jewelry, said he buys such gold pieces for $160 each. They retail at his store for $175 each.

A good investment

The U.S. government has been making the $10 American Eagle gold coins since 1986, he said. Sprouse normally has about eight to 10 such coins on hand for sale at his store.

But Sprouse said he has had customers order 50 to 100 of the gold coins. Gold, he said, is a good investment.

No one had to tell Stillwell that.

The gold piece, wrapped in a $5 bill, was dropped into the bucket sometime Tuesday, he said.

This is Stillwell's first year in charge of the local fund drive. But he said co-workers have indicated the local Salvation Army annually receives anonymous gold coins over the holiday period. The tradition reportedly dates back nearly a decade, Stillwell said.

'Generous tradition'

"It is a wonderful, generous tradition whoever has been doing it," he said. "It is amazing."

The anonymous donation gets the organization in the Christmas spirit, said Stillwell.

"It is a very good time for it to show up," he said.

The Salvation Army typically receives sizable donations right after Thanksgiving and right before Christmas, but usually sees a slow down in donations in the first week of December, Stillwell said.

The Salvation Army hopes to raise $260,000 from its mail campaign and in kettle donations this holiday season. The campaign so far has raised $103,000 or nearly 40 percent of its goal.

While much of its money comes from checks mailed to the Salvation Army, kettles still are an important fund-raising tool, Stillwell said.

The Salvation Army mans 15 kettles at 14 sites in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Perryville, he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123