BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- For about 20 years, an anonymous good Samaritan has dropped off a gold coin in one of the Bloomington Salvation Army red kettles, and this year was no exception.
A Salvation Army volunteer found the gold coin last Tuesday and it is now up for bid on an online open auction.
The opening bid for the coin was $435 and it is now up to $550.
Development Director Steve Schroeder says the gold coin is less about monetary value and more about the value of giving.
"It is nice of course, because the value matters to us since we need the finances to make the operation run. But it's a true Christmas spirit when you get the coins just because somebody cares enough to really make a sacrifice to donate," said Schroeder.
A silver coin was also dropped in a red kettle.
The organization will decide what do do with it after the gold coin auction ends this Friday at 5 PM.
To make a bid, log on to www.sabloomington.org.