Coin Valued At $680 Left In Tulsa Salvation Army Kettle

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A gold half Krugerrand valued at $680 was found Tuesday in a Salvation Army Kettle at a Tulsa Reasor's Foods, 15th and Lewis, according to Major Roy Williams.

Williams, the Tulsa Area Commander, said up until last year, a Krugerrand had been dropped in one of the kettles for the last 15 years. In 2009, the coin was found in an Oklahoma City kettle.

This year's donation was wrapped up differently than in past years. It was found in a paper with "Merry Christmas" at the top and a quotation from Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" underneath. In years past the coin had been wrapped in a dollar bill.

"We are thankful to whoever the generous person is who gave us the half Krugerrand because every year Tulsans watch for it to appear in a kettle before Christmas. But we are also thankful to every person who drops a coin or bill in the kettle," said Major Williams.

What quotation did the anonymous donor use?

"…It is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, or thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."

The Salvation Army bought gifts and food for 3,500 Tulsa families with contributions from the kettles and Angel Trees this year.