3 Gold Coins Worth $5K Left In Crystal Lake Red Kettle

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Three gold coins totaling more than $5,000 were dropped into a Salvation Army red kettle in Crystal Lake this past week.

The three 1-ounce 2010 $50 American Gold Eagle coins were left in a kettle outside Jewel-Osco at 6140 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, and bell ringers discovered the coins at the end of their shift on Wednesday. The coins have an estimated value of $1,800 to $1,900 apiece.

The discovery of the valuable coins was made less than a week after three gold coins, worth an estimated $685, were dropped in a kettle at the same location.

• 13 Gold Coins, Bars Worth $11K Left In Salvation

“The generosity of people in McHenry County never ceases to amaze me,” said Major Barbara Owen, corps officer for The Salvation Army of McHenry County. “This is the largest number of one ounce coins we have found in my three years here, and the impact it will make in our

community will go beyond the Christmas season.”

Almost 70 percent of Salvation Army’s donations are made during the Red Kettle campaign. For the first time in the organization’s 135-year history, The Salvation Army launched the annual Christmas fundraising campaign, called Rescue Christmas, nearly two months early to meet a significant increase in need.

The Salvation Army of McHenry County adapted services to meet the unprecedented need since the start of the pandemic, including the creation of a temporary food pantry, according to a news release.

All money donated to the Red Kettles stays local. Donations, including the valuable gold coins, help fund programming year-round, including food and emergency financial assistance. For more information on The Salvation Army’s Rescue Christmas campaign, please visit
www.salarmychristmas.org.