A few weeks ago Orlando firefighter Brad Lehnen and the crew at station 10 hit the streets like they do every year, collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, dollar after dollar filling the boot. But what Lehnen didn't realize is there was a little surprise inside when he dumped out his boot. “I started counting all the bills. Sifting through the change and their was a gold coin at the bottom, “said Lehnen.Firefighters often find things other than coins and dollars in their boots phone numbers, watch batteries once even an engagement ring, but this is the first time the MDA in central Florida got a rare coin, a 1912 gold coin with an Indian head on it. "Every year we get a surprise donation. I don't think a rare coin is going to be sitting in the ash tray. I feel it’s an anonymous donor that picked the Orlando boot to drop it in.” said Amy Clelland from the MDA.
Gold coins like the one found in the boot could be worth thousands of dollars. FOX 35 took it to coin and currency of Orlando. They told us the two and a half dollar coin is worth about $200.00.
Not a bad day for the firefighter. Collecting for the MDA is a friendly competition between the Orlando fire stations and it looks like with this rare find this firefighter Lehnen will get the credit this year but he doesn't care about that, "Muscular dystrophy is getting credit for it. I don't think it’s us.”
This is not the first time a charity has received a gold coin. For years the Salvation Army all over the country has had rare coins dropped in anonymously, some worth thousands of dollars.
MDA is hoping they can sell this coin and take all the proceeds to give to their charity.
