LIHU‘E — Salvation Army Envoy Joy Groenleer thought it was a foil-covered chocolate coin when she saw what Torres Simon was holding up, Monday. Simon, helping sort through the weekend collection of Red Kettles, held a used plastic pill pouch
LIHU‘E — Salvation Army Envoy Joy Groenleer thought it was a foil-covered chocolate coin when she saw what Torres Simon was holding up, Monday.
Simon, helping sort through the weekend collection of Red Kettles, held a used plastic pill pouch containing a coin. That parcel was among the collection of coins being sorted on Monday.
But on closer examination, Groenleer discovered the coin in the plastic bag was a Krugerrand, a gold coin minted out of gold in South Africa.
“I didn’t know what to think,” Groenleer said. “Last year, Lt. Sarah Smuda discovered a Krugerrand in one of the kettles at the Koloa Big Save, and I didn’t think it could happen twice.”
Groenleer said the coin was deposited in the kettle fronting the Longs Drugs at Kukui Grove Center some time between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday.
“The Boy Scouts from Troop 148 and Scoutmaster Lyle Tabata were volunteering at that station,” Groenleer said. “Unfortunately, Lyle could not be there, but there were other leaders helping the boys.”
Smuda speculated the depositor was a man since not too many people would deposit a coin in a used plastic baggie into a red kettle.
Upon discovery, Groenleer said she needed to notify Division Office and send along a photo so they could determine what would happen next.
Smuda said when she discovered her Krugerrand last year, the Salvation Army sold it for $1,200.
Envoy Larry Groenleer estimated the coin to be worth between $1,200 and $1,800.
“We need it,” he said. “Our collections are down 17 percent, and this is really going to help.”
The Gold Krugerrand Ferret website states that when you purchase a 1/10 oz Gold Krugerrand, you buy more than a coin — it’s a passport to gold ownership for everyday people.
Over the past 30 years, gold has increased in value — in 1979, it was about $200 an ounce making the 1/10 ounce gold Kruggerand worth a little more than $20 when it was introduced in 1980.
In January, 2009, gold was more than $850 an ounce, making that same Krugerrand worth about $90, the website states.
The website’s current prices for a 1 oz. Kruggerand is $1,470 on the high side based on eBay gold prices, and $1,425 on the low side, the average coming in at $1,449. This is based on a Spot Gold Price of $1,374.34.
Visit www.goldkrugerrandferret.com for more information on the coin.
Groenleer indicated on Saturday the Lihu‘e Corps was going to finish strong. She just did not know how strong.
Volunteers are still being welcomed to help ring bells at Red Kettle stations through Christmas Eve.
Call 245-2571, or 335-5441 to sign up as a volunteer.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
