Silver Bells that Bring in Gold

Every year about this time, you see those big red Salvation Army kettles outside of stores. Next to the kettles stand volunteers who continuously clang silver bells to attract the attention of shoppers and passersby in the hopes that they will stop and consider donating a little of their change (or dollars) to help the less fortunate.

Charitable organizations thrive on these small donations. Many people dropping in a few coins does make a difference However, groups like the Salvation Army also get by on large, often anonymous offerings that are quite valuable.

There is a tradition of people dropping gold coins to add to the Salvation Army coffers. If you have done it or know someone who has, then you are in good company because people have been doing this since 1982.

Just recently, someone put some gold coins into a Salvation army kettle in Indiana. One of the gold coins that the Salvation Army in Indiana received is presumed to be from China; it has a panda on one side and a pagoda on the other. The other gold coin is a coin form the year 1881. This coin has a $5 face value and features an image of Liberty on one side and an eagle on the other side.

Although is seems that the Salvation Army does not know the identity of this gold coin benefactor, they were able to get some information on where the coins came from. Someone who works in the store where one of the gold coins was purchased told the news media that a woman paid more than $100 for the gold coin with the pagoda on it. She let this person in on her plans, saying that she was going to give the gold coin to charity.

We are all in favor of giving to charity and applaud people like the woman for their acts of generosity. Those that volunteer to assist with those kettles certainly hear the clinks of coins are they are dropped in, but can never be sure of the exact value of what is in the kettle until the contents are removed and examined later.

You should give your coins generously, but if you want to reserve some of your gold coins to sell gold to a gold buyer to get cash for gold, we completely understand.