# Coins in public fountains **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027 "2001-05-10T22:23:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/1 "2001-05-10T22:23:14Z")
By now, there must be quite a few dollars’ worth of coins that have been tossed into public fountains. So I’m wondering: Does anyone ever have to go in and collect them? Also, if you were desperate for some change and decided to wade in and get some, would anyone have a legal right to stop you? What if you wanted to take as many coins out of the fountain as you could? Is it all there for the public’s taking? ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/2 "2001-05-10T22:31:03Z")
In my city, about every fountain that seems to get money thrown in has a sign somewhere telling where the money goes (usually a non-profit of some sort). They often also say that any money thrown in becomes the property of that organization, and can’t legally be taken out by just anyone. Periodically, almost any fountain needs to be shut off, drained and cleaned, and that’s when they collect the cash. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/3 "2001-05-11T00:42:57Z")
Most coins in fountains are collected and donated to charity. This is usually done by draining the fountain and picking the coins up off the bottom, at the same time other maintenance is done. In downtown Chicago, some coin-filled fountains are relieved of their monetary burden without draining by the homeless and/or small children. If you get downtown early enough you can sometimes see homeless types taking a bath in the fountains in summer, too. Personally, I don’t have a problem with some hungry dude washing the stink off and scooping up enough coins for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Grok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Grok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grok)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/4 "2001-05-11T01:51:22Z")
I’ve always marvelled at peoples’ propensity for throwing money into almost any puddle of standing water in their path. I should put a fountain out in front of my house and pay my rent with the proceeds. Could I do that? ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/5 "2001-05-11T06:49:22Z")
Why do people throw coins into public fountains in the first place? I know, because it’s good luck. But how did this custom start? ---
**Author:** ![Usurer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/2acd7d/32.png) [@Usurer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Usurer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/6 "2001-05-11T16:01:13Z")
The ancient Teutons used to sacrifice treasure and the spoils of war (armor, weapons, etc.) by sinking them in peat bogs… Their gods then apparently reciprocated with good luck, etc. Perhaps this custom, like that of the Christmas tree, got held over after the conversion to Christianity? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/7 "2001-05-11T17:01:02Z")
Olentzero? ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/8 "2001-05-11T17:33:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Usurer \* > \*\*The ancient Teutons used to sacrifice treasure and the spoils of war (armor, weapons, etc.) by sinking them in peat bogs… Their gods then apparently reciprocated with good luck, etc. Perhaps this custom, like that of the Christmas tree, got held over after the conversion to Christianity? \*\* Alternatively, people might just like the satisfying plonking sound you get when you drop loose change into water. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/9 "2001-05-11T19:02:18Z")
All the coins from the famous Trevi fountain in Rome is collected for the Red Cross. This is done a couple of times a year. The Bronze-Age people in Britain used to cast swords and other objects into water to appease the gods. Before being thrown in the swords were always broken in two.Many of these objects have been found. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/10 "2001-05-12T01:43:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Saltire \* > \*\*In my city, about every fountain that seems to get money thrown in has a sign somewhere telling where the money goes (usually a non-profit of some sort). They often also say that any money thrown in becomes the property of that organization, and can’t legally be taken out by just anyone. > > Periodically, almost any fountain needs to be shut off, drained and cleaned, and that’s when they collect the cash. \*\* Hmmmm…I have yet to see a sign around here indicating any sort of charity that will eventually get those coins. If the fountain is in an area that happens to be surrounded by several merchants, I wonder if one of them actually has a claim on it? And then there are the fountains at colleges and universities. Imagine the possibilities: “Hey, now I can pay for my overdue books!” “Cool, now I can get some junk at the vending machine” (etc.) ---
**Author:** ![IBBen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85f322/32.png) [@IBBen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IBBen)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/11 "2001-05-12T02:12:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by David Cronan \* > \*\*Before being thrown in the swords were always broken in two.Many of these objects have been found. \*\* Or perhaps the sword broke and it’s owner angrily chunked it into the water? ---
**Author:** ![Beruang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/12 "2001-05-12T02:20:48Z")
I once worked at a museum that had a fountain. Many people would throw in coins. Occassionally a security guard in need of change would scoop some out. Once one was caught and, according to my friend in HR, fired for stealing from the museum. (It was a private institution on private property, not a public fountain as mentioned in the OP.) – Beruang ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/13 "2001-05-12T07:23:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mephisto \* > **I know, because it’s good luck.** La gente butta delle monete nella Fontana di Trevi per essere sicura che va a tornare a Roma… ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/14 "2001-05-12T07:30:20Z")
Any panhandlers out there on the board? Try filling your pan with water, and see if pedestrians drop more change than usual. If this technique works, I’ll submit it to the Alliance party so that they can use it as a plank in their anti-poverty platform. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coins-in-public-fountains/65027/15 "2001-05-12T16:12:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by IBBen \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by David Cronan \* > > \*\*Before being thrown in the swords were always broken in two.Many of these objects have been found. \*\* > > Or perhaps the sword broke and it’s owner angrily chunked it into the water? \*\* It was deliberate,see [http://www.flagfen.freeserve.co.uk/flag.html](http://www.flagfen.freeserve.co.uk/flag.html) for a full explanation