A “rare” gold coin worth thousands of dollars was dropped in a red donation kettle for The Salvation Army in Colorado over the holidays, continuing a “mysterious” tradition, officials said.

A 26-year tradition in Fort Collins continued when a South African Krugerrand gold coin worth thousands showed up in The Salvation Army's red kettle.

For the 26th year in a row, the one-ounce South African gold coin, valued at more than $2,700, was pulled from a red kettle at a King Soopers store on Dec 23.

The Salvation Army said this is at least the 26th year in which an anonymous donor has dropped a South African gold Krugerrand into a red kettle in Fort Collins. The tradition began in 1998. The 1-ounce coin was pulled from a red kettle at a King Soopers on Dec. 23, the organization said.