The Trevi Fountain in Rome can generate over $3200 (NZ$4706) a day. Photo / iStock
The Trevi Fountain in Rome can generate over $3200 (NZ$4706) a day. Photo / iStock
It may look like loose change - but it all adds up.
Famous fountains around the world, it turns out, are raking in millions of dollars from coins tossed into their waters by tourists hoping it'll bring them good luck.
The famous Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas, for example, rakedin $12,000 (NZ$17,648) in one year, while Rome's Trevi Fountain made over $1million (NZ$1.47m) in 2011.
Here are some fountains around the world that make a very healthy income from tourists' extra coins - though many do give the cash to charity.
The money from the Roman fountain is removed daily, and can generate over $3200 (NZ$4706) a day.
There has been a crackdown on thieves in recent years after a television show used a hidden camera to record three men sweeping coins from the fountain with a broom.
It also emerged a man had been taking up to $1,000 (NZ$1470) a day from the fountain using a sword-like magnet for 34 years, according to the Localit.
Nowadays the authorities have clamped down on the process and the money is used to pay for Aids shelters and food for the poor.
9/11 Memorial, New York
Visitors to the 9/11 memorial in New York City are being warned to stop throwing coins into the reflective pools as it is against the rules.
Visitors to the 9/11 memorial in New York City are being warned to stop throwing coins into the reflective pools. Photo / Rob McFarland
The plea comes as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum revealed that $2,735 (£1,931) in cash had been retrieved from the property in 2014.
The reflective pools outside form part of the memorial and are each nearly an acre in size, featuring the largest manmade waterfalls in North America.
Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
The famous Bellagio lake has featured in many movies and TV shows and as a result attracts a lot of tourists each year, keen to throw coins in.
More than $12,000 (NZ$17,648) was taken from the Bellagio lake in 2010. Photo / Supplied
Every month the lake is cleaned, and staff use a giant vacuum to remove everything on the lake floor.
According to Review Journal, more than $12,000 (NZ$17,648) was taken from the lake in 2010, with most of the money being donated to Habitat for Humanity.
Rainforest Cafe, US
It may be famous for its creative interior design and moving animatronics, but the Rainforest Cafes in the US collected over $50,000 (NZ$73,534) in two years, according to the Chicago Tribune.
In keeping with its nature-based theme, this money was given to environmental charities.
Disney Parks and Resorts
Disney parks are decorated with numerous fountains, and any coins that get tossed in there by visitors go to deserving causes.
Coins thrown into Disney fountains are donated to a number of deserving causes. Photo / Supplied
In 2014 , Disney surprised Community Based Care (CBC) of Central Florida with $18,000 (NZ$26,472) fished from its fountains.
The organisation help thousands of children in foster care.
Even though the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain in Chicago is one of the largest in the world, its intake of tossed coins is surprisingly low.
Despite being one of the largest in the world, Buckingham Fountain only makes about $200 (NZ$294) a year. Photo / iStock
Tourist can see hourly 20-minute water displays at the water feature, but just $200 (NZ$294) a year is collected, said John Burke, chief engineer for the Lakefront Region of the Chicago Park District, to the Chicago Tribune.
Chicago Police Department spokesman Matthew Jackson told the paper that police rarely have to wade into Chicago fountains as the amount of money in them is so low.
Bryant Park, New York
City Room reported in 2012 that the spare change in Bryant Park added up to $2,000 (NZ$2941) each three-month period.
The spare change in Bryant Park added up to $2,000 (NZ$2941) each three-month period. Photo / iStock
And March is supposedly when the cash left there peaks, following the influx of visitors to New York around Christmas and New Year.
Evanston Crichlow, who's been cleaning the fountain since 1991, said to City Room: 'From January to October, you can't even get a bucket full.'
