Millions of pounds are thrown into famous fountains around the world, like the Trevi Fountain in Rome, each year. The fate of this money has been demystified by a travel specialist, shedding light on what really happens to the coins. Many tourists participate in the age-old tradition of tossing coins into fountains to make a wish or for good luck.
The founder of Leftover Currency, Mario Van Poppel, explained that the coins collected from fountains are often mined periodically, and the money is then used for charitable purposes or for the maintenance of the fountain itself. For instance, at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the money gathered is donated to the Roman Catholic charity Caritas to support projects like soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
While larger fountains like the Trevi Fountain have a system in place to collect and allocate the funds, smaller fountains may have coins accumulating at the bottom for extended periods. In some cases, the money left in these fountains goes towards upkeep and maintenance. The tradition of tossing coins into water bodies is deeply rooted in various cultures and often linked with making offerings for good fortune or wish fulfillment.
Other famous sites like the Bellagio lake in Las Vegas and Disneyland in Florida also see significant amounts of money being thrown into their fountains annually. The funds collected from these locations are often donated to charities such as Habitat for Humanity and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. However, not all fountains permit coin tosses, with places like the 9/11 memorial in New York discouraging this practice.
Coins left in water for extended periods can deteriorate, especially those made of copper or nickel. Cleaning and sorting these coins is crucial to ensuring that the money can be put to good use. Leftover Currency specialises in exchanging foreign coins, old banknotes, and obsolete currencies, providing a means to breathe new life into forgotten money found in fountains or elsewhere.
The act of tossing coins into fountains remains a popular tradition worldwide, with each coin representing a wish or hopeful gesture. Whether it’s a symbol of goodwill or a gesture for personal luck, the practice continues to draw visitors to iconic fountains year after year, perpetuating a tradition that transcends cultures and borders.