Gold Coin Valued At $1,200 Donated To Libertyville Red Kettle

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — A gold coin valued at $1,200 was deposited into a Salvation Army red kettle at a Libertyville grocery store recently, making it the first rare coin that has been donated anonymously this holiday season.

The coin, a South African ½-ounce Krugerrand, was dropped in a kettle outside of the Jewel-Osco store located at 1300 South Milwaukee Avenue, the Salvation Army said in a statement from the charitable organization.

Local Salvation Army officials said that the donation will remain in the region to help provide food, clothing, and services for migrant families in Waukegan and Libertyville.

“There’s an increasing need for assistance as more migrant families come into our area looking for rent assistance and clothing vouchers, that’s where this gift will help,” Major Dan Faundez, corps officer at The Salvation Army Waukegan Corps, said in a statement.

“This will also be key for supplies in our pantry. We’ve had to reduce the amount we’ve been able to hand out, we’re hoping this will help us continue to provide those services.”

Faundez told Patch that 93 cents out of every dollar donated through the Salvation Army's Red Kettle effort remains in the Waukegan-Libertyville area. With this particular coin's value – along with contributions made to red kettles in Lake County – will stay in Lake County to help those in need.

The contributions break down in the following way, he said. A total of $25,000 goes toward rental assistance, $13,500 goes toward, $14,000 goes toward food and cleaning supplies, $10,000 goes to transportation assistance, $3,000 goes to medical aid while $106,000 will go to help families out by providing Christmas gifts and other holiday supplies to families.

The Salvation Army has more than 200 red kettle collection sites around the greater Chicago area. The organization has set a goal to raise $18 million this year.

NBC Chicago reported that last season, the Salvation Army’s north and central Illinois division received 10 gold coins.

In 2019, a gold coin worth nearly $2,000 was dropped in a kettle in Tinley Park, NBC Chicago reported. Officials said that the coin was dropped anonymously into a kettle outside Jewel-Osco, 17117 S. Harlem Ave. The 123 $20 Double Eagle gold coin was wrapped in a plastic sleeve with a note saying it’s “Mint State-60 grade.”