Solid gold coin found in charity collection canon December 8, 2023 at 3:31 pm

A foreign coin deposited into a charity’s collection can has been called a “Christmas cracker” after it turned out to be worth £1,462.

The 2015 American Gold Buffalo 50-dollar coin was donated to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).

Its true value was only discovered after being sent to a foreign currency exchange.

As the charity has collection cans all over Scotland it said it had no way of knowing where it was handed in.

SCAA community fundraising manager Kate Loades said when the cans are emptied and counted any foreign, out-of-date or misshapen coins are gathered in a box.

“When we have enough foreign coinage, it is sent for conversion to Sterling for our funds,” she said.

“It could have been donated anywhere in Scotland. All we know is that we’re hugely grateful to whatever kind person parted with their US coin to support the work of SCAA.

“Their generosity helps us to respond to critical injury and illness wherever we’re needed in Scotland, so we thank them for making one of our collection cans a real Christmas cracker.”

The American Buffalo coin, also known as a gold buffalo, contains one-troy ounce (31.1g) of pure gold and has a face value of $50(£38).

It was first offered for sale by the US Mint in 2006 – since then the coin has increased considerably in value due to its popularity and the increase in the price of gold.

Last year the SCAA raised nearly £26,000 through collection can giving, but the charity said it has never raised as much money from a single can before.

“It really is the Golden Goose of SCAA’s Christmas,” Ms Loades said.