A “rare” gold coin worth thousands of dollars was dropped in a red donation kettle for The Salvation Army in Colorado over the holidays, continuing a “mysterious” tradition, officials said.

A rare South African Krugerrand gold coin worth thousands was found amid the spare change donated to a Salvation Army red kettle in Colorado.

A 26-year tradition in Fort Collins continued when a South African Krugerrand gold coin worth thousands showed up in The Salvation Army's red kettle.

The Salvation Army’s red kettle drive began in San Francisco in 1891, when Captain Joseph McFee emulated a similar charity strategy he had seen in Liverpool, England. The kettle matched the campaign’s slogan: “Keep the pot boiling,” a reference to a need to feed the hungry. In 2019, more than 25,000 kettles were in operation around the U.S.

For the 26th year in a row, the one-ounce South African gold coin, valued at more than $2,700, was pulled from a red kettle at a King Soopers store on Dec 23.

For the 26th year in a row, a South African gold coin worth thousands was dropped in a Fort Collins red kettle over the holiday season.