CEDAR FALLS -- The Cedar Valley Salvation Army received an early Christmas present Monday when bell ringers emptied the contents of a kettle at the Cedar Falls Wal-Mart.

Carefully wrapped inside several $1 bills was a Lady Liberty Double Eagle 1-ounce gold coin. On Tuesday, the price of gold was listed at $865 dollars per ounce, said Sue Hennings

"It's a wonderful Christmas surprise," she said. "This is something that really makes you believe in Santa Claus."

The coin circulated in the U.S from 1907 to 1933. In 1934 all but one Double Eagle was destroyed when President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Gold Reserve Act. All remaining Lady Libertys are replicas of that coin.

Valuable gold coins have been mysteriously turning up in Iowa Salvation Army kettles for the last several years. Organization officials say they don't know who's behind the donations, but say they are thankful for the contributions. Last year a South African Krugerrand gold coin turned up in a kettle at the University Avenue Hy-Vee.

"It never happens at the same location, or at the same time of day," Hennings said. "And it's always a wonderful Christmas surprise."

The Double Eagle will be auctioned off to raise money for the Salvation Army. Anyone interested in bidding on the coin should call (319) 235-9358.

, development director with the local Salvation Army.