A volunteer rescue organisation is hoping to cash in on an unusual donation.
A specially minted £2 coin was found in one of the collecting boxes of the Severn Area Rescue Association which members hope will boost its coffers by more than the face value.
The coin, a ‘dove of peace’ issue from 1995 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, has now been placed on eBay to see how much it will raise.
Elspeth Hardie, a member of the team which is a combined mountain rescue and inshore lifeboat team, said: “We had recently collected several of our tins from local businesses and that morning my task was to count them.
“As usual the tins were poured out onto the table and one coin stood out. It was the same size as a £2 but slightly thicker and all one colour. We are used to getting foreign coins as we collect these too, but something about this coin seemed special.
“While I continued to count the tin, our station chairman got onto Everyclick – the search engine we use as they donate per search click – and he got directed to eBay and realised that the coin was special, a rare 1995 dove of peace coin, which was produced by the Royal Mint in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War, which when sold a donation was made to the Royal British Legion.
“With prices rising to £295 for a pure gold version of this coin we know we aren’t lucky enough to have been donated one of these, but probably a nickel one. But it’s worth more than the £2 face value.
“As a rescue organisation and registered charity solely reliant on donations and fundraising and maintained by volunteers we are grateful for any donations but to be donated this coin, even if the donor didn’t realise its full worth, was special.
“We have placed the coin on to eBay and have already gained a bid for £3, and are hoping to get a few more bids which will not only boost our coffers but also make the coin special to SARA.”
The Severn Area Rescue Association covers the River Severn and surrounding area from the Severn Estuary up to Shrewsbury and beyond from four stations: Beachley, Sharpness and Tewkesbury, and Wyre Forest in north Worcestershire.
Details of the coin can be seen on eBay.
