Giving away gold to help others is a very special act of generosity. When it is done at Christmas, well, that is a miracle.

But, that’s exactly what happened to the Salvation Army in Denver, Colo., during the 2007 Christmas season. Over a period of six days, six historic $20 gold pieces with dates from 1883 to 1906 showed up in the Salvation Army’s traditional red buckets, but anonymously. To this day, nobody knows who the Secret Santa is that provided such a valuable contribution.

The gold coins are the Liberty $20 gold pieces issued by the U.S. Treasury from 1849 to 1907. The obverse, or “heads” side, features a bust of Lady Liberty facing to the left surrounded by 13 six-pointed stars and the date under Lady Liberty. On the reverse, or tails, is a stylized Great Seal eagle with a glory of 13 six-pointed stars surrounded by sun-rays and the legend, “United States of America” and the denomination “Twenty Dollars.”

“We went to see if we could get them valued after Christmas and WorthPoint stepped forward to help,” said Major Neal Hogan, director of social services for the Salvation Army. “They really have shown a spirit of caring for the community. They have taken a lot of steps to help by connecting us up with people that are in the process of making these move forward into a real gift that can help.”

In the meantime, WorthPoint sponsored a “Cool Kids” art contest. Kids visiting the WorthPoint booth at the American Presidential Experience in Denver during the Democratic National Convention were asked to draw, paint, or color a thank you to the Secret Santa for their generous contribution. Later, all the artwork was judged with prizes for the winner.

All of the coins were to be auctioned off Oct. 24, 2008 to raise money for Salvation Army programs for the coming year. “We’ll start off next Christmas with a pot of money with what was given [this year],” Major Hogan says.

The Salvation Army, as it is known now, started and continues on an unconventional approach to spreading hope among the destitute, the poor, the needy and others on the margins of society. Instead of churches and pulpits, they have help centers and gather contributions through each Christmas season with bell ringers and the well-known red kettles. Begun in 1852 by William Booth in England, it was first known as the Christian Mission. By 1878, with nearly 1,000 volunteers, his movement was described as a volunteer army. Instead, Booth changed it to Salvation Army, with soldiers of Christ, known as Salvationists. The Salvation Army now operates its international headquarters in London, England where it all began.

So, to the Secret Santa, thank you. You know who you are and in our hearts we know you are one of us. Merry Christmas to you, and to all a good night.

NOTE: An auction was held in late 2008 by Freeman’s Auction Company and the six gold coins were auctioned off for a total of $4,700 or about $783 each, well within the range of estimate of $750 to $800 each.

Watch a video about the gifts of gold to the Salvation Army here.

Tom Carrier is a general Worthologist, with an expertise in a wide variety of subjects.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles.

DENVER, Oct. 17 — The Salvation Army (http://www.imsalvationarmy.org/), WorthPoint, a leading online source for information about art, antiques and collectibles (http://www.worthpoint.com/) and ANACS, America’s oldest coin-grading service (http://www.anacs.com/) today recognized the winners of the “Cool Kids Art Contest.”

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgibin/prnh/20081017/CLF017)

The contest, open to children ages 5-12, was held to thank an unknown person or persons who dropped six gold $20 Liberty coins into Salvation Army kettles on Denver’s 16th Street Mall during last year’s Christmas holiday season.

The coins will be auctioned October 24 at a live online auction on Freeman’s Web site (http://www.freemansauction.com/), and the proceeds will help The Salvation Army serve the community. Both WorthPoint and ANACS donated their services. In addition to providing an appraisal, WorthPoint helped The Salvation Army take the gold coins to auction.

The coins, minted between 1883 and 1906, were officially graded by ANACS and valued by WorthPoint expert Ed McDonough at $900-$1,000 a piece.

WorthPoint offers a database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles and access to and commentaries by professionals who provide expert opinions and evaluations. ANACS operates the oldest independent third-party authentication and grading service in the country.

Award Winners

Out of more than 300 submissions, The Salvation Army selected two winners each from the 5-8 and 9-12 age categories. The four winners, Taylor Goodman, 8; Myria Garcia, 6; Phoebe Bawmann, 11; Laura Bottke, 10, will each receive $25 prizes. The finalists or “Red Ribbon” winners were Emma Campbell, 7; Olivia Bilek, 8; Hope (last name unlisted), 9; Christopher Miller, 12.

“WorthPoint is about helping people understand the value of their art, antiques and collectibles,” said Will Seippel, WorthPoint CEO and founder. “But in the case of the mystery coins, there is no price tag that can be put on this unselfish act of generosity. Co-sponsoring this art contest is our way of saying thanks and helping to teach youngsters the importance of giving.”

“The generosity of this donor is only matched by the enthusiasm of these children. It is a great honor to participate in such a noble event,” added James Taylor, ANACS president. “As long as the numismatic community continues to support this effort with coin donations, The Salvation Army can count on ANACS to assist with our certification services.”

“During these uncertain times and especially as the holidays approach, this donation will go a long way toward helping provide sit-down Christmas dinners and giving comfort and support to individuals struggling with difficult family, emotional or financial problems,” said Salvation Army Maj. Neal Hogan.

Gold coins have an interesting history with The Salvation Army. The first gold coin mysteriously appeared in a Salvation Army kettle site in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake in 1982. Since then, more than 300 gold coins have been donated at kettle sites across the country. The proceeds from these coins have gone to help people in need.

About ANACS
Founded in 1972, ANACS is a third-party coin grading and authentication service. Located in suburban Denver, ANACS was originally created by the American Numismatic Association (ANA) in Washington, D.C., to help coin collectors identify counterfeit coins. Today ANACS is known for its collector-friendly policies offering certification of U.S. and foreign coins, as well as tokens and medals. It attributes more different types of coin varieties and errors than any other coin-grading service.

About The Salvation Army
Nearly 36 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year. The Salvation Army has been meeting people’s needs in Denver since 1887. For more than a century, the helpless, hopeless and needy have relied
on The Salvation Army for food, clothing, shelter, encouragement, comfort and prayer. In addition to these traditional services, its programs offer education, child care, elder care, gang intervention, athletics, character building, alcohol- and substance-abuse rehabilitation, as well as response to emergencies and natural disasters for the benefit of the children, families and communities of the Rocky Mountains.

About WorthPoint
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Atlanta, WorthPoint (www.worthpoint.com) is an Internet-based data and media company that offers a vast database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles from more than 400 auction houses. Members can share their insights, knowledge and passion and build collecting communities. WorthPoint helps collectors understand the history and value of their items and provides expert advice on how to preserve or sell them. While it does not facilitate the bidding of any items, WorthPoint provides information about upcoming auctions at its partner auction houses.

Contact Public Relations
404-549-6979 ext. 9017

DENVER, Oct. 17 — The Salvation Army , WorthPoint , a leading online source for information about art, antiques and collectibles and ANACS, America’s oldest coin-grading service today recognized the winners of the “Cool Kids Art Contest.”

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The contest, open to children ages 5-12, was held to thank an unknown person or persons who dropped six gold $20 Liberty coins into Salvation Army kettles on Denver’s 16th Street Mall during last year’s Christmas holiday season.

The coins will be auctioned October 24 at a live online auction on Freeman’s Web site Freeman’s Web site, and the proceeds will help the Salvation Army serve the community. Both WorthPoint and ANACS donated their services. In addition to providing an appraisal, WorthPoint helped the Salvation Army take the gold coins to auction.

The coins, minted between 1883 and 1906, were officially graded by ANACS and valued by WorthPoint expert Ed McDonough at $900-$1,000 a piece.

WorthPoint offers a database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles and access to and commentaries by professionals who provide expert opinions and evaluations. ANACS operates the oldest independent third-party authentication and grading service in the country.

Award Winners

Out of more than 300 submissions, the Salvation Army selected two winners each from the 5-8 and 9-12 age categories. The four winners, Taylor Goodman, 8; Myria Garcia, 6; Phoebe Bawmann, 11; Laura Bottke, 10, will each receive $25 prizes. The finalists or “Red Ribbon” winners were Emma Campbell, 7; Olivia Bilek, 8; Hope (last name unlisted), 9; Christopher Miller, 12.

“WorthPoint is about helping people understand the value of their art, antiques and collectibles,” said Will Seippel, WorthPoint CEO and founder. “But in the case of the mystery coins, there is no price tag that can be put on this unselfish act of generosity. Co-sponsoring this art contest is our way of saying thanks and helping to teach youngsters the importance of giving.”

“The generosity of this donor is only matched by the enthusiasm of these children. It is a great honor to participate in such a noble event,” added James Taylor, ANACS president. “As long as the numismatic community continues to support this effort with coin donations, the Salvation Army can count on ANACS to assist with our certification services.”

“During these uncertain times and especially as the holidays approach, this donation will go a long way toward helping provide sit-down Christmas dinners and giving comfort and support to individuals struggling with difficult family, emotional or financial problems,” said Salvation Army Maj. Neal Hogan.

Gold coins have an interesting history with the Salvation Army. The first gold coin mysteriously appeared in a Salvation Army kettle site in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake in 1982. Since then, more than 300 gold coins have been donated at kettle sites across the country. The proceeds from these coins have gone to help people in need.

About ANACS
Founded in 1972, ANACS is a third-party coin grading and authentication service. Located in suburban Denver, ANACS was originally created by the American Numismatic Association (ANA) in Washington, D.C., to help coin collectors identify counterfeit coins. Today ANACS is known for its collector-friendly policies offering certification of U.S. and foreign coins, as well as tokens and medals. It attributes more different types of coin varieties and errors than any other coin-grading service.

About the Salvation Army
Nearly 36 million Americans receive assistance from the Salvation Army each year. The Salvation Army has been meeting people’s needs in Denver since 1887. For more than a century, the helpless, hopeless and needy have relied on the Salvation Army for food, clothing, shelter, encouragement, comfort and prayer. In addition to these traditional services, its programs offer education, child care, elder care, gang intervention, athletics, character building, alcohol- and substance-abuse rehabilitation, as well as response to emergencies and natural disasters for the benefit of the children, families and communities of the Rocky Mountains.

About WorthPoint
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Atlanta, WorthPoint is an Internet-based data-and-media company that offers a vast database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles from more than 400 auction houses. Members can share their insights, knowledge and passion and build collecting communities. WorthPoint helps collectors understand the history and value of their items and provides expert advice on how to preserve or sell them. While it does not facilitate the bidding of any items, WorthPoint provides information about upcoming auctions at its partner auction houses.

Contact:
Dan Greenfield
WorthPoint
Dan [dot] greenfield [at] worthpoint [dot] com
(404) 549-6979 x9029
(404) 310-0023 cell

The results from the Freeman’s currency sale are:

Lot 88—1883 S $20 gold coin, estimate $750-$850. Sold $700.
Lot 89—1898 S $20 gold coin, estimate $775-$875. Sold $800.
Lot 90—1800 S $20 gold coin, estimate $750-$850. Sold $800.
Lot 91—1902 S $20 gold coin, estimate $750-$850. Sold $800.
Lot 96—1904 S $20 gold coin, estimate $800-$900. Sold $800.
Lot 97—1906 S $20 gold coin, estimate $775-$875. Sold 800.

Hindman marketplace auction

On November 9 and 10, Leslie Hindman Auctions, of Chicago will be presenting its annual Marketplace Auction. For more than a decade, Marketplace Auctions have been a staple of the Leslie Hindman auctioneers experience, which offers something for the novice and the seasoned collector. This auction, the ethnographic session, presents more than a thousand lots for your consideration in the areas of decorative arts and antiques, ethnic art and fine art. I also suggest that you take a look at its December 3 vintage couture and accessories sale and the December 4 fine jewelry and timepieces sale.

Lot 25 in the upcoming marketplace sale is an excellent buy. A French Art Deco center table made of fruitwood and fruitwood veneers with a rectangular top over a plain frieze concealing draw leaves and raised on twin shaped supports over ebonized feet. A telephone call to a Hindman representative confirmed that the piece had no maker’s mark, but the overall condition is good to excellent. With an estimate of $1,000 to $1,500, it is probable that the bidding will exceed the estimate because of its “honest” design.

Low estimate for Macintosh-style chairs

Setting the tone for design that preceded Art Deco is Lot 47, a set of four high-back chairs in the design style of Charles Rennie Macintosh (1868-1928), the Scottish architect and definer in Britain of a new, more austere approach to Art Nouveau. Each chair is designed with concave backs and ebonized finish and has a strong architectural austerity. The estimate of $1,000 to $2,000 is low for pieces of such integrity of design.

The decorative arts are well represented, but Lot 767, a bronze statue by French artist Emmanuel Hannaux (1855-1934), stands out. Hannaux was a runner-up in the 1880 Prix de Rome and statues like his “Bust of a Warrior” are included in permanent collections in the Paris Museum of Modern Art and the Wallace Collection. The statue of Judith standing victorious over the severed head of Holophernes is signed and has a low estimate of $1,000 to $2,000.

Many paintings have been done of Judith with the slain Holophernes. The most famous is Caravaggio’s 1599 depiction, but the most infamous is Artimesia Gentileschi’s portrayal. I include this in this report because the story of Gentileschi and her Judith is a fascinating one.
An interesting piece of ethnography is Lot 94, a Kurdish cast-metal wedding cap. It appears to be 19th century and is hung with symbolic coins that would represent a dowry. The estimate is good at $150 to $250.

African mask could be sleeper

One of the more interesting pieces that also falls into the ethnographic category is Lot 518, an African decorative metal mask with geometric decoration topped with a stylized animal head. The catalog does not state origin, but it appears, by its specialized design, that it is either Ife or Benin in origin and most likely bronze. If it were from Ife, a Yoruba city in the western region of Nigeria, this bronze mask would have followed the original mask-making tradition that would have been made from terra cotta.

The Ife design embraces the terms “naturalism and realism,” and these terms were applied by Westerners when first seen in the 17th century. Carbon dating has shown that Ife masks like Lot 518, previously thought to have been made in the 16th century, could have been made as early as the 9th century A.D. The estimate of $200 to $400 makes this potential huge sleeper a potential Great Buy. If it is an early casting, the estimated value would easily be in the five figures.

– By Christopher Kent, a member of the WorthPoint board of advisers and director of evaluations for WorthPoint. He is also an antiques and collectibles generalist, fine-arts broker and president of CTK Design.

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

In 1891, Captain Joseph McFee resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner to the poor of San Francisco. Uncertain of how he would pay for the food, Capt. McFee considered ways to fund his event. He recalled a large pot called “Simpson’s Pot,” displayed on the Stage Landing from his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England. Passersby tossed charitable donations into the pot.

Capt. McFee decided to do something similar in San Francisco. After city authorities granted permission, Captain McFee placed a crab pot and tripod at the Oakland ferry landing at the foot of San Francisco’s Market Place. The kettle – and McFee’s request to “Keep the Pot Boiling!” – drew a lot of attention, and so began a tradition that spread throughout the United States, then the world.

As The Salvation Army’s kettles became synonymous with the spirit of Christmas giving, a new and exciting tradition began. Valuable gold coins began to mysteriously appear among the spare change being dropped into the kettles. In 1982, the first “Gold Coin” appeared in a kettle in Crystal Lake, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Since then, more than 300 gold coins have been donated at kettle sites across the country.

Finding a single gold coin in a Christmas kettle is a valuable gift. To receive more than one is rare. Last year, The Salvation Army discovered 6 U.S. $20 Liberty Head gold coins among their Christmas Kettle donations in Denver, Colorado; a miraculous find.

The coins will be auctioned off October 24, 2008 at Freeman’s. You can bid on the coins via phone.)

Congress authorized the creation of the $20 Liberty Head on March 3, 1849. The coin’s designer, James B. Longacre, was the U.S. Mint’s chief engraver from September 16, 1844 until his death on New Year’s Day, 1869. The Liberty Head depicts the familiar profile of Lady Liberty and at $20, was the highest denomination of any coin struck by the U.S. Mint to that date. The denomination was created specifically as a response to the California Gold Rush as a way to deal with the sudden influx of metallic wealth. It was generally used to store value or by banks to keep their gold reserve. Today, the Liberty Head, which is 90% gold, is sought for its bullion value and as a beautiful numismatic collectible.

Monetary donations from The Salvation Army’s kettle collections go towards helping people in need in our community. Providing food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, and spiritual care to the emotionally distraught. The Salvation Army accomplishes this through the generosity of its donors.

To honor the anonymous donor(s) of the gold coins received in last year’s Christmas kettles, WorthPoint, ANACS(America’s oldest coin grading service), and The Salvation Army joined together in creating the Cool Kid Art Contest; inviting children from the ages of 5-12 to draw thank you pictures of the person or people who donated the six gold coins during last years holiday season.

Over 300 children showed their appreciation through creative artwork depicting the spirit of giving, while visiting WorthPoint’s booth at The American Presidential Experience, August 22-29th. On October 10th, four winners will be notified.

TOP 70 ARTISTS FROM THE COOL KID ART CONTEST, CONT’D

Editor’s note:

A popular exhibit at the American Presidential Experience is the Cool Kids Art Contest at the WorthPoint exhibit. The contest rules were to draw a picture of the person or people who put the gold coins in the Salvation Army kettles in Denver last Christmas. Hundereds of children drew pictures for the contest and we will begin posting them later this week.

Click on an image to see a larger size.

WorthPoint and ANACS (America’s oldest coin grading service) are helping the Salvation Army take the coins to auction in October.

The Cool Kids Art Contest is sponsored by WorthPoint and ANACS.

WorthPoint – the premier Web site for art, antiques and collectibles

The Cool Kids Art Contest Video

Page 3 – More of the children’s pictures

Page 4 – More of the children’s pictures

Back to Page 1 of the Salvation Army Cool Kid’s Art Contest

Editor’s note:

The Cool Kids Art Contest at the WorthPoint exhibit was a popular site at American Presidential Experience. The contest rules were to draw a picture of the person or people who put gold coins in the Salvation Army kettles in Denver last Christmas. Hundereds of children drew pictures for the contest and we are posting some of them on the WorthPoint site.

Click on an image to see a larger size.

WorthPoint and ANACS (America’s oldest coin grading service) are helping the Salvation Army take the coins to auction in October.

The Salvation Army Cool Kids Art Contest is sponsored by WorthPoint and ANACS.

WorthPoint – the premier Web site for art, antiques and collectibles

The Cool Kids Art Contest Video

Back to previous pages

Page 1- More of the children’s pictures
Page 2 – More of the children’s pictures
Page 3 – More of the children’s pictures

Editor’s note:

A popular exhibit at the American Presidential Experience is the Cool Kids Art Contest at the WorthPoint exhibit. The contest rules were to draw a picture of the person or people who put the gold coins in the Salvation Army kettles in Denver last Christmas. Hundereds of children drew pictures for the contest and we will begin posting them later this week.

Click on an image to see a larger size.

WorthPoint and ANACS (America’s oldest coin grading service) are helping the Salvation Army take the coins to auction in October.

The Cool Kids Art Contest is sponsored by WorthPoint and ANACS.

WorthPoint – the premier Web site for art, antiques and collectibles

The Cool Kids Art Contest Video

Page 4- More of the children’s pictures

Back to previous pages

Page 1- More of the children’s pictures

Page 2 – More of the children’s pictures

Editor’s note:

A popular exhibit at the American Presidential Experience is the Cool Kids Art Contest at the WorthPoint exhibit. The contest rules were to draw a picture of the person or people who put the gold coins in the Salvation Army kettles in Denver last Christmas. Click on an image to see a larger size.
Hundereds of children drew pictures for the contest and we will begin posting them later this week.

WorthPoint and ANACS (America’s oldest coin grading service) are helping the Salvation Army take the coins to auction in October.

The Cool Kids Art Contest is sponsored by WorthPoint and ANACS.

WorthPoint – the premier Web site for art, antiques and collectibles

More of the children’s pictures

The Cool Kids Art Contest Video

The Salvation Army and WorthPoint invite young artists at the American Presidential Experience in Denver to draw pictures about the gold coins placed into Salvation Army kettles last Christmas.

Hundreds of children and their parents are stopping by the WorthPoint booth at the American Presidential Experience.

WorthPoint is partnering with the Salvation Army and ANACS , America’s oldest coin-grading service, to sponsor the “Cool Kids Art Contest” at the American Presidential Experience in Denver this week. Children ages 5-8 and 9-12 are invited to draw and color a “thank you” picture of the unknown person or persons who dropped six gold $20 Liberty Coins into the Salvation Army’s kettles on Denver’s 16th Street Mall during the Christmas holidays last year.

Some young visitors to the “Cool Kids Art Contest” show off an entry.

WorthPoint offered to evaluate the gold coins for the Salvation Army. The coins, minted between 1883 and 1906, were graded by ANACS and valued by Worthologist Ed McDonough at $900-$1,000 each.

According to the Salvation Army’s Tara Wilkinson, more than 300 children have already taken part in the art contest. The kids’ drawings are on display at the WorthPoint exhibit. Four $25 prizes will be awarded to the young winners—two in each age category—who will be announced on October 10.

The Salvation Army’s gold coins have an interesting history, according to Wilkinson. “The first gold coin mysteriously appeared in a kettle in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake in 1982. Since then, more than 300 gold coins have been donated at kettle sites across the country.”

Wilkinson says that money from the Salvation Army’s kettle collections goes to people who need help. “Some of them are in hospitals and nursing homes, and others live in shelters or family transitional housing because they can’t afford a home. Some of the money goes to provide sit-down Christmas dinners, and some is used to help families struggling with difficult family, emotional or financial problems.”

The coins will be auctioned in October at a live online auction on Freeman’s auctions Web site. In an interesting coincidence, Freeman’s is America’s oldest auction house, and the Salvation Army is America’s oldest charity. Chief Worthologist Thom Pattie, who is at the WorthPoint exhibit in Denver, said, “Will Seippel, our CEO and founder, suggested we help the Salvation Army as one step in creating a strong company culture of giving back to the community.”

WorthPoint is helping the Salvation Army take the gold coins to auction and co-sponsoring the “Cool Kids Art Contest.”

Images of the children’s art work will continue to be posted on the WorthPoint Web site all this week.

WorthPoint — The premier Web site for art, antiques & collectibles