Stunning find

Christmas has come early for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) after a solid gold coin was found in a collecting can.

The coin, worth £1,462, turned out to be a 2015 American Gold Buffalo 50-dollar coin.

With collection cans all over the country SCAA said it had no idea where the coin was donated.

SCAA community fundraising manager Kate Loades said: "When we have enough foreign coinage, it is sent for conversion to Sterling for our funds," she said.

"It could have been donated anywhere in Scotland. All we know is that we're hugely grateful to whatever kind person parted with their US coin to support the work of SCAA.

"Their generosity helps us to respond to critical injury and illness wherever we're needed in Scotland, so we thank them for making one of our collection cans a real Christmas cracker."

The gold buffalo contains one-troy ounce (31.1g) of pure gold and has a face value of $50(£38).

It was first offered for sale by the US Mint in 2006 - since then the coin has increased considerably in value due to its popularity and the increase in the price of gold.

Last year the SCAA raised nearly £26,000 through collection can giving, but the charity said it has never raised as much money from a single can before.

"It really is the Golden Goose of SCAA's Christmas," Loades said.