NEW ALBANY – A gold nugget donated to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign in New Albany has the potential to bring in tens of thousands of dollars to help those in need.
The Salvation Army of Southern Indiana received a 15.5-ounce gold nugget, delivered anonymously on Saturday by what the organization calls a “trusted elf.” The donation is part of the National Commander’s Red Kettle Challenge, an initiative to raise $2 million nationwide at selected Salvation Army locations within four hours.
The Salvation Army of Southern Indiana has set a fundraising goal of $378,000 to support local programs and services in 2025.
The 15.5 troy-ounce nugget has a market value of nearly $42,000 but is expected to fetch over $50,000 at auction.
“Nuggets of this size are inherently rare,” said Craig Kissick, Vice President of Nature & Science for Heritage Auctions, in a news release. “Due to their scarcity, examples such as this, and especially of this quality, can often be expected to achieve a premium in value well beyond the mere value of the gold content.”
