A SCOTTISH charity was left stunned after discovering a rare coin worth nearly £1500 from a collection tin.
Charity bosses were delighted by the early Christmas present in the shape of a foreign coin.
The valuable coin was deposited in one of the charity tins used by Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance Service (SCAA) to raise funds.
It receives hundreds of foreign rejects or old coins in its annual collections.
Once the charity has collected enough foreign coins, they are sent away to be converted into sterling for their own funds.
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It was here that Xchange Master found out what the anonymous donation was really worth on behalf of the charity.
The 2015 American Gold Buffalo 50-dollar coin was valued at £1,462.
Community fundraising manager Kate Loades said: "It’s the first time, however, that a single can has delivered such a large return—it really is the Golden Goose of SCAA’s Christmas.
“We have hundreds of collection cans distributed throughout Scotland.
"These are all emptied and counted, with any foreign, out-of-date, or misshapen coins gathered in a box. When we have enough foreign currency, it is sent for conversion to sterling for our funds.”
She added: "It could have been donated anywhere in Scotland,” said Kate. “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.”
Last year, SCAA raised nearly £26,000 through their collection tins.