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Is taking money from a fountain illegal?

Author

David Richardson

Updated on February 20, 2026

Is taking money from a fountain illegal?

The precise legend of the Trevi Fountain says you should stand with your back to the fountain and toss a coin over your left shoulder to guarantee a return trip to Rome. It turns out that there's an even better reason to toss your coin into the Trevi Fountain than just wishing for a return trip to Rome.

Consequently, what happens to the money in fountains?

All that money has to go somewhereThrowing spare change into a fountain is a time-honored ritual: throw a penny into the water, and your wish might come true. Depending on where a fountain is and who owns it, the coins collected can go to all sorts of different places—from fountain upkeep to charity or public service.

Beside above, how much money is collected from the Trevi Fountain? An estimated 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain each day. In 2016, an estimated €1.4 million (US$1.5 million) was thrown into the fountain. The money has been used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy; however, there are regular attempts to steal coins from the fountain, even though it is illegal to do so.

Also asked, is it bad luck to take coins from a fountain?

5. Throwing coins in a fountain. Dropping coins into bodies of water started as a way to thank the gods for the gift of clean water and ask for good health. Saying a prayer when you tossed the coin eventually evolved into the modern-day practice of throwing money into wishing wells and fountains.

What do malls do with Fountain money?

For the most part, money collected from privately-owned fountains in the United States also goes to charity. The fountain in New York City's Bryant Park is owned and operated by a non-profit corporation, which puts the cash collected by cleaners towards the fountain's own upkeep.

What does a wishing well symbolize?

A wishing well is a term from European folklore to describe wells where it was thought that any spoken wish would be granted. The idea that a wish would be granted came from the notion that water housed deities or had been placed there as a gift from the gods.

Where did the wishing well come from?

A wishing well is a term from European folklore to describe wells where it was thought that any spoken wish would be granted. The idea that a wish would be granted came from the notion that water housed deities or had been placed there as a gift from the gods.

What coins are considered lucky?

The Five Luckiest Coins in the World
  • The Five Luckiest Coins. Legends all over the world cast coins not only as forms of currency, but as good luck charms as well.
  • Leap Year Mercury Dime (U.S)
  • Silver Sixpence (Great Britain)
  • Five-Yen Coin (Japan)
  • Feng Shui Coins (China)
  • Silver Dollars (U.S.)

Is heads or tails lucky on a penny?

If one side of a penny brings good luck, the other side brings bad. This is where the heads up for luck and tails for bad luck comes from. If you find a penny with the “good” side up, pick it up. If the “bad” side is up, leave it be.

What does it mean when you drop money on the floor?

In many cultures, the ground is symbolically associated with lowliness, and, so, to put your purse on the floor shows a lack of respect for your money. Essentially, this superstition boils down to: If you want to keep your money, respect it.

Is it bad luck to pick up a dime?

If one side of a penny brings good luck, the other side brings bad. This is where the heads up for luck and tails for bad luck comes from. If you find a penny with the “good” side up, pick it up. If the “bad” side is up, leave it be.

Is a dime good luck?

Leap Year Mercury Dime (U.S)
The "silver dime" as it's also known, is used in the African-American religion of hoodoo to help conjure luck as well. These practices likely stem from Mercury being the god of "the crossroads" or fate, as well as chance.

What does it mean when you find a dime heads up?

– Someone or something is trying to get your attention. – Guidance or validation that you're on the right path. – Ancestors, spirits, or deceased loved ones want you to know they're looking out for you. – The number 10 symbolizes a circle, so a dime might indicate coming full circle.

Is it unlucky to buy your own purse?

This superstition is considered to be bad Feng shui, because your purse is seen as a symbol for your wealth. Putting it on the floor is therefore a sign of great disrespect and disregard for your money.

How much money is thrown into Rome's Trevi Fountain every day?

An estimated 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain each day. In 2016, an estimated €1.4 million (US$1.5 million) was thrown into the fountain. The money has been used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy; however, there are regular attempts to steal coins from the fountain, even though it is illegal to do so.

Can you still throw coins into Trevi Fountain?

Legend has it that tossing coins over your shoulder into Rome's Trevi Fountain will ensure you someday make another trip to the city. Visitors are so keen to engage in the tradition that around $1.7 million in change is thrown into the 18th-century fountain every year.

How old is the Trevi Fountain?

258
c. 1762

What is inside the Trevi Fountain building?

The Palazzo Poli is a palace in Rome, Italy, forming the backdrop to the famous Trevi Fountain. The Palazzo Poli houses an important collection of copper engraving plates from the 16th century to the present. The Palazzo also houses the Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica.

What is the Trevi fountain made out of?

Travertine
Carrara marble

How does Trevi fountain work?

The Trevi draws water from the Acqua Vergine Antica aqueduct, which is almost entirely underground. This aqueduct was brought to Rome by Agrippa from a spring roughly 20 km east of the city, in order to supply water to his public baths by the Pantheon in 19 B.C.E.

What does Trevi mean?

Trevi is the rione II of Rome, located in Municipio I. The origin of its name is not clear, but the most accepted possibility is that it comes from the Latin trivium (meaning "three streets"), because there were three streets all leading to "piazza dei Crociferi", a square next to the modern Trevi square.

Who sculpted the Trevi Fountain?

Nicola Salvi

How do you throw coins in the Trevi Fountain?

A proper Trevi coin toss is done using your right hand to throw the coin over your left shoulder. Additionally, if you plan to throw a second and third coin into the fountain, each is to be tossed separately, not all at once.