The tradition: what people do and say
The most common version of the tradition involves:
- One coin: guarantees a return to Rome
- Two coins: leads to a romantic encounter with a Roman
- Three coins: leads to marriage (or in some versions, divorce from your current partner)
The gesture requires throwing the coin with the right hand over the left shoulder, with your back to the fountain. This is the version codified by modern popular tradition.
The origins: a 1954 film
The coin-in-the-fountain tradition, in its current form, is relatively recent. The documented origin is the American film "Three Coins in the Fountain" (1954), directed by Jean Negulesco.
The film tells the romantic stories of three American women in Rome. The opening scene — and the recurring motif — is the throwing of coins at the Trevi Fountain as a wish-granting gesture. The title song (Three Coins in the Fountain, performed in its most famous version by Frank Sinatra) won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1955.
The film was a massive commercial success. After its release, the practice of throwing coins spread rapidly among tourists from all over the world visiting the fountain.
The earlier tradition: drinking the Acqua Virgo
Before the film, a different tradition existed. The ritual of return to Rome did not involve coins: anyone who wanted to ensure their return to Rome had to drink the water of the Acqua Virgo directly from the source.
This custom is older and is rooted in the idea that Rome's water had almost magical properties — the Acqua Virgo was considered the purest water in the city. Drinking it meant establishing a physical bond with Rome.
The coin version has replaced this practice — more cinematic and more easily replicated by tourists.
How many coins are thrown
The collection data is public and regular:
- Daily average: approximately 3,000 coins
- Annual income: between €1.4 and €1.5 million (in recent years)
- Currencies: mainly euros, but coins from many other countries are also found
The annual record was set in the years of greatest tourist flow before 2020.
Who collects the coins and where they go
The coins are collected every night, around midnight, by operators from Caritas Rome. The collection uses specialist equipment.
Until 2007, the proceeds went to the City of Rome. From 2007, under an agreement with the municipality, the entire amount goes to the Diocesan Caritas of Rome, which directs it towards programmes assisting the homeless and the destitute of the city.
In 2016, the City of Rome attempted to redirect the proceeds to the municipal budget to address financial difficulties. The proposal met with strong public and media opposition, and the donation to Caritas was maintained.
The precise gesture
The "right hand over left shoulder" version, with your back to the fountain, is the one codified by modern popular culture, partly through films and tourist guides following 1954.
Local variants of the tradition prescribe slightly different versions:
- Some sources simply say to throw the coin into the basin
- The left shoulder/right hand specification appears most often in anglophone sources
In any event, no ancient historical source documents this tradition: it is a modern cultural invention of the twentieth century.
The prohibition on collecting coins
It is not permitted to collect coins from the basin. Doing so is considered theft of funds destined for charity. Over the years, several individuals have been stopped by police while attempting to collect coins from the basin.
In 2002, a Roman man named Roberto Cercelletta (nicknamed "d'Artagnan") was stopped many times for regularly collecting coins from the fountain. The story received some media attention.
The coins during the Fendi restoration (2015–2016)
During the fountain's restoration (2015–2016, sponsored by Fendi for €2.18 million), the fountain was drained. Before the draining, the coins in the basin were collected and donated to Caritas. The estimated total was several hundred thousand euros.
During the restoration phase, the basin was temporarily refilled with the coins themselves — a scenographic choice that attracted considerable attention.
Visit the Trevi Fountain with a private driver
The fountain is in a ZTL zone — no private car access.
Visit the Trevi Fountain with a private driver: direct, comfortable arrival with no traffic or parking concerns. Service from €49. → Book your driver at myromedriver.com
Frequently asked questions
How many coins are thrown into the Trevi Fountain each day? On average, around 3,000. The annual total exceeds €1.4 million.
Where does the coin money go? Since 2007, all proceeds go to Caritas Rome, which uses them for assistance to the homeless and destitute.
Is the coin tradition ancient? No. The tradition in its current form (coin with right hand over left shoulder) derives mainly from the 1954 American film "Three Coins in the Fountain."
Is it forbidden to collect coins from the basin? Yes. The coins are destined for charity. Collecting them is considered theft.
Can you still drink the water of the fountain? Technically the Acqua Virgo is drinkable, but health authorities advise against drinking from outdoor basins for hygiene reasons.
Article no. 83 — TIER S — MON-05 Trevi Fountain Type: PRACTICAL Words: ~1,000