Coin Tossing: Enduring Superstition Rooted in History, Ritual, and the Quest for Good Luck

Across cultures and centuries, people have tossed coins into fountains and water bodies for good fortune, a tradition rooted in ancient beliefs of offerings to supernatural beings inhabiting water. The act symbolizes a sacrifice and connection with higher powers, often represented by the quasi-magical properties attributed to coins bearing specific images and symbols. The practice has evolved beyond water, extending to aircraft turbines and even art auction houses, with varying destinations for the collected coins, including charitable organizations and the fountains themselves, where they may remain as tangible reminders of wishes made.

The Enduring Allure of Coin Tossing: A Superstition Steeped in History and Ritual

Across the globe, for centuries, the act of throwing coins into fountains, wishing wells, and rivers has been a ubiquitous tradition, a gesture imbued with hope for good fortune. From Disney's enchanting "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" to the romantic melodies of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe," the imagery of coin-tossing has permeated our collective consciousness.

This enduring practice has witnessed the passage of time, leaving behind a legacy of countless coins adorning the depths of water bodies. But what drives this seemingly innocuous act, and where does all the money end up?

Origins: A Delve into Myth and Nature

The genesis of coin tossing as a symbol of good luck remains shrouded in mystery, with its roots intertwined with ancient Roman-British and Celtic beliefs. Rooted in the notion of offerings to spirits or supernatural forces that reside within nature, coin tossing has long been associated with the cleansing and life-giving properties of water.

One of the earliest examples of a wishing well resides in England's Northumberland County, where people left offerings to the goddess Coventina. Excavations have yielded thousands of coins within the well, dating back to eras between the first and fifth centuries, providing tangible evidence of this practice's deep historical roots.

Coins as Sacred Tokens: A Currency for the Supernatural

Bill Maurer, an anthropologist and dean at the University of California Irvine's School of Social Sciences, sheds light on the significance of coins in rituals. In many cultures, the offering of symbolic objects, such as food, stones, artifacts, and herbs, was customary. However, with the advent of coinage in modern-day Turkey between 500 and 600 BCE, people largely transitioned to money as their offering of choice.

Coins often bear images, inscriptions, and symbols that evoke a sense of authority and sovereignty, making them particularly suitable for rituals. When someone makes an offering of a coin, they are acknowledging and honoring a higher power, according to Maurer. "It's not so much about the monetary value, but the quasi-magical property that people believe the coin possesses," he explains.

Evolution of a Superstition: Beyond Water, into the Realm of Luck

Over time, the tradition of coin tossing has evolved beyond its aquatic origins. Stefan Krmnicek, an anthropologist from the University of Tuebingen in Germany who specializes in coinage throughout history, cites documented cases in East Asia where people have thrown coins into airplane turbines as a form of good luck charm while boarding. In one notable incident in 2017, an 80-year-old woman delayed a flight in Shanghai for five hours when a coin she tossed as a prayer ended up in the engine.

Beyond the domain of water, people have sought luck in various other contexts, including the Well of Pen Rhys in Oxford, said to possess healing powers, and even the wood of boats. The superstition transcends cultures and socioeconomic levels, with art buyers at Sotheby's Auction House sometimes leaving coins at the base of statues of Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity of good fortune and obstacle removal.

The Fate of the Coins: A Tale of Charity, Accumulation, and Symbolic Preservation

For some well-known fountains, the accumulation of coins can be substantial. In 2016, NBC reported that the Trevi Fountain in Rome collected approximately $1.5 million in coins. The organization responsible for collecting these coins has not provided updated figures, but the sheer volume of coins suggests a significant monetary value.

In the fictional world of children's literature, "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler," two runaway children survive by collecting coins from fountains at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, amassing a small fortune in the process.

Private fountains can also generate substantial revenue. The Mall of America in Minneapolis collects approximately $25,000 annually from its fountains, according to a spokesperson. Other fountains, including those at Disney Parks and Las Vegas casinos, reportedly accumulate thousands of dollars each year.

The ultimate destination of the coins varies. In the case of the Trevi Fountain, a Catholic non-profit receives the coins after Rome city workers collect them each night, distributing them to charitable organizations. The Mall of America also allows non-profits to apply for funding from the fountain donations.

However, in some instances, the coins remain within the fountains themselves, perhaps as a tangible reminder of the wishes that accompany them. Passersby are generally reluctant to collect them, as it is considered disrespectful. As Maurer puts it, "People usually don't keep the money; that would be considered bad form."

Coin tossing as a ritual of good luck has withstood the test of time, woven into the fabric of our cultural practices. Its origins lie in ancient beliefs and the power attributed to money and nature. Through its evolution across centuries and cultures, coin tossing remains a testament to the enduring human desire for fortune and protection, a symbolic gesture of hope that continues to resonate.