Here’s Where All Those Wishing Well Coins Actually Go
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Flickr / DeepakG
Maybe it’s just us, but has anyone else wondered what happens to coins after they’ve been thrown into a wishing well fountain? As you can imagine, the answer varies, but we just had our minds blown. From fountain upkeep in New York City to feeding the needy in Rome, coins find their destinations eventually. Here’s where they actually go:
According to Smithsonian Magazine, coins from New York City fountains are collected by staff of the city’s Parks and Recreation department. However, before the coins are gathered to be cleaned and deposited, sometimes they’re taken by people (illegally).
“They are cleaned regularly by Parks staff, but we consistently find that most of the coins have already been removed by entrepreneurial New Yorkers and there is not a significant amount left to be collected,” New York City Parks and Recreation spokesperson Maeri Ferguson told Smithsonian.
Other cities, like Rome, take coin collecting very seriously, and take the use of those coins even more seriously. Locals and tourists alike visit Trevi Fountain, one of Europe’s most famous fountains, so often that it accrues up to $4,000 in coins daily. NBC reports that $1.5 million in coins were collected from the fountain in 2016, and that for years, the funds have been going toward feeding the needy through Catholic charities.
As for the collection of private fountains at Minnesota’s Mall of America, charities can apply for free to receive a portion of the proceeds. Fountains at other popular attractions like Disney World and Las Vegas casinos donate the money directly to local and national charities.
So basically, New York City and other major cities with unsupervised public fountains have to get with the program. Our hearts are warmed knowing that so many coins from major fountains are directly used to help others. There is good in the world. ☺️
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