Bid in Birmingham for Rare Coins Discovered by Salvation Army

Four rare coins discovered in a Macomb County Salvaton Army kettle will be auctioned off in Birmingham in February.

While counting donations from Macomb County-area Salvation Army kettles, the Salvation Army office in Mt. Clemens found two Soviet-era palladium rubles as well as two British coins from 1910 and 1862 in their Salvation Army kettles.

"In the 20 years I've been doing it, it's the most unique thing," Salvation Army advisory board member George Calvet told the Detroit Free Press on Dec. 31, noting they're not sure where the coins were donated.

Now, those coins will be auctioned off in Birmingham. Birmingham Estate and Jewelry Buyers will host the silent auction for the first half of February, with the final buyer to be notified on Feb. 14.

To leave a bid, stop by the Woodward Avenue jeweler from Feb. 1-14 and drop off your bid in a Salvation Army kettle at the store. All funds raised will be donated back to the Macomb County Salvation Army.

Anthony Aubrey, owner of Birmingham Estate and Jewelry Buyers told the Detroit Free Press he estimated the coins will bring in more than $1,000 at auction. In addition, he plans on donating an extra $500 on top of the final bid price.

The Macomb County Salvation Army is currently $25,000 short of its $500,000 red kettle donation goal this year.

• For more: Rare coins show up in Macomb County Salvation Army kettles