拋硬幣：根植於歷史、儀式和尋求好運的持久迷信

跨越文化和世紀，人們將硬幣扔進噴泉和水體中以求好運，這一傳統植根於向水中超自然生物供奉祭品的古老信仰。該行為象徵著犧牲和與更高權力的聯繫，通常表現為帶有特定圖像和符號的硬幣的準魔法屬性。這種做法已經超越了水的範疇，擴展到飛機渦輪機甚至藝術品拍賣行，收集到的硬幣有不同的目的地，包括慈善組織和噴泉本身，在那裡它們可以作為對所許願的切實提醒。

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

拋硬幣的持久魅力：一種植根於歷史和儀式的迷信

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.

幾個世紀以來，在全球範圍內，將硬幣扔進噴泉、許願井和河流中的行為一直是一種無處不在的傳統，這種行為充滿了對好運的希望。從迪士尼迷人的《白雪公主和七個小矮人》到卡莉·雷·傑普森的《Call Me Maybe》的浪漫旋律，拋硬幣的意像已經滲透到我們的集體意識中。

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?

這種經久不衰的做法見證了時間的流逝，留下了無數裝飾在水體深處的硬幣。但是是什麼推動了這種看似無害的行為，所有的錢最終都去了哪裡？

Origins: A Delve into Myth and Nature

起源：探索神話與自然

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.

拋硬幣作為好運象徵的起源仍然籠罩在神秘之中，其根源與古羅馬、英國和凱爾特人的信仰交織在一起。拋硬幣植根於向自然界中的神靈或超自然力量供奉的觀念，長期以來一直與水的清潔和賦予生命的特性聯繫在一起。

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.

最早的許願井之一位於英格蘭的諾森伯蘭郡，人們在那裡向女神科文蒂娜留下祭品。挖掘工作在井中發現了數千枚硬幣，其歷史可以追溯到公元一世紀到五世紀之間，為這種做法的深厚歷史根源提供了切實的證據。

Coins as Sacred Tokens: A Currency for the Supernatural

作為神聖代幣的硬幣：超自然的硬幣

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.

人類學家兼加州大學歐文分校社會科學學院院長比爾·毛雷爾（Bill Maurer）闡明了硬幣在儀式中的重要性。在許多文化中，提供象徵性物品，如食物、石頭、手工藝品和草藥，是一種習慣。然而，隨著公元前 500 年至前 600 年現代土耳其鑄幣的出現，人們基本上轉向使用貨幣作為他們的選擇。

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.

硬幣通常帶有圖像、銘文和符號，可以喚起權威和主權的感覺，使它們特別適合儀式。毛雷爾表示，當有人捐贈一枚硬幣時，他們就是在承認並尊重更高的權力。 「這與貨幣價值無關，而是人們認為硬幣擁有的準魔法屬性，」他解釋道。

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

迷信的演進：超越水，進入幸運領域

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.

隨著時間的推移，拋硬幣的傳統已經超越了其水生起源。德國圖賓根大學的人類學家 Stefan Krmnicek 專門研究歷史上的鑄幣，他引用了東亞地區有記錄的案例，人們在登機時將硬幣扔進飛機渦輪機作為一種幸運符。 2017 年發生的一起著名事件中，一名 80 歲的婦女在上海的航班延誤了 5 個小時，因為她在祈禱時扔的一枚硬幣最終落入了引擎。

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.

除了水之外，人們還在其他各種環境中尋求運氣，包括據說具有治癒能力的牛津彭里斯之井，甚至還有船的木材。這種迷信超越了文化和社會經濟水平，蘇富比拍賣行的藝術品買家有時會在像頭神甘尼薩（Ganesha）雕像的底座上留下硬幣，甘尼薩是像徵幸運和消除障礙的象頭神。

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

硬幣的命運：慈善、累積與象徵性保存的故事

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.

對於一些知名噴泉來說，金幣的累積可能是相當可觀的。 2016 年，NBC 報道稱，羅馬特萊維噴泉收集了約 150 萬美元的硬幣。負責收集這些硬幣的組織尚未提供最新數據，但硬幣的龐大數量表明其具有巨大的貨幣價值。

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.

在兒童文學的虛構世界《巴茲爾·E·弗蘭克韋勒夫人的混合檔案》中，兩個離家出走的孩子通過從紐約大都會藝術博物館的噴泉中收集硬幣而生存，並在此過程中累積了一筆不小的財富。

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.

私人噴泉也能產生可觀的收入。據一位發言人稱，位於明尼阿波利斯的美國購物中心每年從其噴泉中獲得約 25,000 美元的收入。據報道，其他噴泉，包括迪士尼樂園和拉斯維加斯賭場的噴泉，每年都會累積數千美元。

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.

硬幣的最終目的地各不相同。以特萊維噴泉為例，羅馬城市工作人員每晚收集硬幣後，天主教非營利組織收到硬幣，並分發給慈善組織。美國購物中心也允許非營利組織申請噴泉捐贈的資金。

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."

然而，在某些情況下，硬幣仍然留在噴泉內，也許是為了切實地提醒人們伴隨著它們的願望。路人通常不願意收集它們，因為這被認為是不尊重的行為。正如毛雷爾所說，“人們通常不會保留這些錢；這會被認為是一種不好的行為。”

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.

拋硬幣作為一種吉祥儀式經受住了時間的考驗，融入了我們的文化習俗中。它的起源在於古老的信仰以及金錢和自然的力量。經過幾個世紀和不同文化的演變，拋硬幣仍然證明了人類對財富和保護的持久渴望，這是一種持續引起共鳴的希望象徵姿態。