At the end of last year, we discussed instances of gold coins found in Salvation Army kettles.
Well that got us thinking about other places that accumulate coins: fountains.
Believe it or not, fountains can be quite profitable. One of the most famous fountains in the world—the Trevi Fountain in Rome—is said to collect $4,000 dollars a day! In most cases, fountain money is gathered and put toward fountain maintenance or given to charity. In Rome, the money found in the Trevi Fountain is collected by a group called Charity Caritas. This group uses the acquired funds to create accessible food sources for the poor.
Fountains at the Mall of America in Minnesota also collect more than a pretty penny. It’s been reported that the fountains in the mall collect up to $24,000 a year. These coins also go to a variety of charities that apply for an appropriation.
Why do we throw coins into fountains?
The tradition of throwing coins into a fountain or wishing well goes back thousands of years. Back then, fountain goers weren’t throwing coins in to make a wish, but rather to give thanks to the gods who provided the water source.
One example of this is in Northumberland, England. There, an ancient Celtic well was discovered with 16,000 coins from different eras of the Roman Empire.
People weren’t throwing gold or silver bullion coins in either…
Like today, the coins thrown into these ancient wells usually had low denominations. It’s probably best to stick with that trend—save your gold and silver coins for your precious metal portfolio!
No Need to Make a Wish on Gold or Silver
Historically, gold and silver have held their value. Despite economic turmoil, gold and silver have seen dramatic increases in their values throughout the last 15 years. If you’re interested in getting into the precious metals market, American Gold Eagles or American Silver Eagles are the perfect coins to help you start your precious metals portfolio.
I agree. Low denominations for fountains. Nice to hear history supports that