The Lincoln chapter of the Salvation Army is on a roll — as in rare and valuable coins.

Two more coins, a gold and a silver, turned up in red kettles during the final week of the group’s annual Christmas Tree of Lights campaign.

A $5 gold coin minted in 1998 was recently dropped into a red kettle by an anonymous donor in Lincoln, said Leta Powell Drake, director of development and community relations for the Lincoln chapter.

The uncirculated coin, which has one-tenth of an ounce of fine gold, is worth about $100.

And someone plopped a 1989 American Silver Eagle $1 coin, containing 1 ounce of fine silver, into a kettle, Drake said. That coin’s worth about $500.

Both were found in the last couple of days. Drake said they don’t know where the coins were tossed because coins are mixed together from various locations.

“The Salvation Army has always depended upon the ‘kindness of strangers’ and this is proof positive when donors drop valuable coins in the Salvation Army kettles during Christmas and wish to remain anonymous,” she said.

 Two other gold coins were found in kettles around Lincoln in December, bringing the total to three this holiday season.

An unknown person plopped a 1982 uncirculated Krugerrand, worth about $220. Local Salvation Army officials were excited because it was their first Krugerrand — ever.

Two of the South African coins were found in Omaha and one in Grand Island.

The other coin found earlier this month in Lincoln was an 1889 Liberty $10 gold piece, valued at more than $500. It was found wrapped in a paper note in a kettle at Russ’s Market at 66th and O streets.

The unsigned, handwritten note was addressed to Kalamity Kate and read: “I always loved watching Cartoon Corral after school.”

Drake portrayed Kalamity Kate, the host of the afternoon children’s TV show called Cartoon Corral from 1967-1982.

A final total for this year’s Christmas Tree of Lights campaign was not available. Donations are still coming in and the group should have a final figure by mid-January, Drake said.

The Salvation Army set a new record for donations during the 2006 campaign, raising $430,725, but struggled with donations and finding volunteers to ring bells this holiday season.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 402-473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.