Salvation Army Mystery Coin Donors Give $10,000, Reveal Identities After 15 Years

In Gettysburg, Penn., part of the magic of Christmas has included a mysterious gold coin anonymously dropped into a Salvation Army red kettle every year since 1996.

After giving almost $10,000 in special coins over the years, the donors have finally revealed their identities, the Gettysburg Times announced.

Dick and Ruth Jean Unger, who had long asked to remain nameless, finally went public because so many people wanted to know who was behind the kind-hearted deed.

Dick Unger, who has served in the military, worked as an x-ray technician and in the insurance field, told the Times that the Salvation Army remains one of their favorite charities. He and his wife are lifelong residents of the area.

Salvation Army Regional Director Cindy Yearsley said the couple's generosity has had a huge impact:

“So many individuals and families have been helped by the Unger’s generosity that we owe them our most sincere appreciation.”

And perhaps in their 15 years of anonymous coin-dropping, they inspired a few other mystery-givers.

In early December, a Wisconsin bell ringer found a gold coin in his red kettle. It was valued at $1,600 according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

And it's not just coins. The Salvation Army reported two incidences of diamond rings being dropped into their donation kettles this year.

According to Reuters, one ring dropped into a kettle in Miami had diamonds and sapphires and was wrapped in a $50 bill with a note inside:

"They need more than I. Do good! A Friend."

SLIDESHOW: CHECK OUT MORE HEARTWARMING ANONYMOUS DONATION STORIES BELOW

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Comments

[Minister X]

11:56 PM on 01/22/2012

Watch out for the boo-birds tonight:

"Charities are a scam...."
"Look at these two, acting like saints...."
"Instead of helping x, why aren't they helping y. Y is more deserving!"

For crying out loud, people.

Mr. and Mrs. Unger, I salute you!

[michelleobamaok]

02:20 PM on 01/22/2012

Damn. And on the rest of Huffpost, they want to make Jay-Z out as some type of good samaritan simply because he is rich.

On the other hand, this is fabulous. This type of news doesn't make it to the front pages, nor does it stay there. Instead, we are given doses of news that inflicts mental illnesses on most of the readers. This is done for a purpose.

[iconico62]

06:40 AM on 01/21/2012

This is what true charity is: it does not care to be known. It does not care if it is tax deductible or not. The rewards will come later. In heaven.

[camoore5]

02:51 AM on 01/21/2012

If only there where more kind and generous people in this world like this people. Thank goodness there are still some caring people out there that are willing and able to help out the less fortunate!

[petpetdonna]

01:04 AM on 01/21/2012

The Salvation Army uses their donations they receive to the MAX, unlike other so called charities like the Red Cross who pays its president over $625,000 a year in salary plus expenses. The RC uses ONLY about 30% of the donations they receive to actually help people in need.

[fworfe]

07:10 PM on 01/20/2012

Folks like the Ungers sure don't grow on trees. Unfortunately.
Love those folks.
Planet Earth still has hope as long as Unger-type people exist.

[jrp1947]

06:35 PM on 01/20/2012

Each of us needs to give what we can when we can to help those truly in need. I target veteran and homeless organizations locally where at least seventy percent of each dollar goes to the client looking for help. the same goes for those that have stores and other venues for raising money. this year I found families that needed help adn gave what i could to help them and they will never know it was from me. I am forced to pay taxes but I give from my heart to help my fellow citizen who has not been as fortunate as me in life.

[gblank1603]

08:04 PM on 01/20/2012

You should be pleased to pay taxes

[jellyj]

07:16 PM on 01/22/2012

f & f !

[wildhorserg]

06:25 PM on 01/20/2012

A few years ago I was homeless and living in a shelter in Burlington, Vermont. The Salvation Army was "given" charge by the U.S. Government to hand out clothes for free to the low income - no income people and those who needed winter clothes. I went there to get some winter clothes. They were charging people for the clothing. They wanted me to pay $21.00 for a military field jacket. These clothes were suppose to be given out for free to people. The following year, the Salvation Army was not given charge of the clothes donated by the government. Since then, I will never ever give the Salvation Army a penny of my money or any donation items. They will sell it to benefit their own pockets.

[cteran2012]

06:37 PM on 01/20/2012

Unfortunately that was one sour apple in the bunch you cannot blame the whole salvation army for that one mishap I mean we all need there help at one point or another and I am sur you used them other times. These are good people and my hats off to them and there generosity.

[petpetdonna]

01:05 AM on 01/21/2012

YOU ARE FULL OF IT.

[FLOWERGOIL]

06:13 PM on 01/20/2012

well ill be.

[moinks]

05:40 PM on 01/20/2012

Wonderful folks...goodness heals life's wrongs, good does win. The coin resembles a good likeness of Donald Sutherland? Anyone else see it???

[sookiejett]

05:22 PM on 01/20/2012

In your AOL headline you said "The Salvation Army has been miffed every year....." regarding the gold coins mysteriously dropped in their baskets. I don't think The SA was "miffed" exactly. Why should they be irked at the anonymous donor's generosity. I think you mean "perplexed" or "baffled". Spell check can't do it all, boys.

[Jason Robinette]

05:37 PM on 01/20/2012

Yeah, the miffed part was just a way to get people to read the article. I'm tired of this BS... seriously, stick to solid journalism, please!

[markrdallman]

05:20 PM on 01/20/2012

I never give to charity, they are just another scam. LOOK at all we do,,, or look at how little we do while making us rich.

[frank day]

05:42 PM on 01/20/2012

There are many fine charitable organizations.

[NATE46]

05:55 PM on 01/20/2012

WE ARE NOT ALL REPUBLICANS!!!!!!!!

[tonyc4137]

06:43 PM on 01/20/2012

You got that right.Those fk's ,they don't care about anyone else.

[flacory]

05:09 PM on 01/20/2012

I think we should really make the S.A. "miffed" by putting Mexican Pesos in the buckets.

[Fanny Cole]

11:44 AM on 01/22/2012

if they are gold pesos they are very valuable.

[SickOfBarf]

05:09 PM on 01/20/2012

What dear and sweet people they all are!!

[Octagonalsign]

05:00 PM on 01/20/2012

HuffPo,

Please talk to the high school kid who wrote this article and explain what "miffed" means....or maybe even try hiring people with journalism training beyond High School.