Salvation Army red kettle receives $1,300 gold coin donation during Christmas season

According to a Thursday news release from the Christian charity, a generous donor dropped a half-ounce gold American Eagle Coin with a $25 face value on Dec.

A half-ounce gold American Eagle Coin with a $25 face value was donated to the Salvation Army in the Valley on Dec. 19.

The coin was found during Dec. 20's kettle donation count and was later appraised and sold for $1,310 by the Ray & Joan Kroc Center Phoenix at Broadway Road and 14th Street, the Salvation Army said in a Thursday news release.

The U.S. Mint first issued the gold American Eagle Coin in 1986.

A note attached to the coin read, "May this gold help the people in need during the Christmas season. Bless you all," the Salvation Army shared.

"We witness extraordinary acts of kindness and giving year-round, and this incredible donation is certainly no exception," said Capt. Dustin Rowe, Kroc Center Corps officer, in a statement. "We want to thank this generous donor from the bottom of our hearts."

The Salvation Army said that Kroc Center red kettle donations were down by 18 percent compared with the same time last year.

Arizona donors can reduce their state tax bill dollar for dollar when they donate to the Salvation Army through April 15 and file donations under the qualified charitable organization code 20671, the Salvation Army noted.

Red kettles are sparse following Christmas Eve, but a handful can still be found at select stores through New Year's Eve, Salvation Army spokesperson Scott Johnson said. Donations may also be made to SalvationArmyRedKettle.org or by texting RedKettles to 51555, Johnson added.

About 84 cents of every dollar donated to the Salvation Army benefits local programs and services, according to the news release. More than 380,000 Arizonans were helped through the Salvation Army last year, the organization said.