抛硬币：根植于历史、仪式和寻求好运的持久迷信

跨越文化和世纪，人们将硬币扔进喷泉和水体中以求好运，这一传统植根于向水中超自然生物供奉祭品的古老信仰。该行为象征着牺牲和与更高权力的联系，通常表现为带有特定图像和符号的硬币的准魔法属性。这种做法已经超越了水的范畴，扩展到飞机涡轮机甚至艺术品拍卖行，收集到的硬币有不同的目的地，包括慈善组织和喷泉本身，在那里它们可以作为对所许愿的切实提醒。

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

抛硬币的持久魅力：一种植根于历史和仪式的迷信

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.

几个世纪以来，在全球范围内，将硬币扔进喷泉、许愿井和河流中的行为一直是一种无处不在的传统，这种行为充满了对好运的希望。从迪士尼迷人的《白雪公主和七个小矮人》到卡莉·雷·杰普森的《Call Me Maybe》的浪漫旋律，抛硬币的意象已经渗透到我们的集体意识中。

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?

这种经久不衰的做法见证了时间的流逝，留下了无数装饰在水体深处的硬币。但是什么推动了这种看似无害的行为，所有的钱最终去了哪里？

Origins: A Delve into Myth and Nature

起源：探索神话与自然

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.

抛硬币作为好运象征的起源仍然笼罩在神秘之中，其根源与古罗马、英国和凯尔特人的信仰交织在一起。抛硬币植根于向自然界中的神灵或超自然力量供奉的观念，长期以来一直与水的清洁和赋予生命的特性联系在一起。

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.

最早的许愿井之一位于英格兰的诺森伯兰郡，人们在那里向女神科文蒂娜留下祭品。挖掘工作在井中发现了数千枚硬币，其历史可以追溯到公元一世纪到五世纪之间，为这种做法的深厚历史根源提供了切实的证据。

Coins as Sacred Tokens: A Currency for the Supernatural

作为神圣代币的硬币：超自然的货​​币

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.

人类学家兼加州大学欧文分校社会科学学院院长比尔·毛雷尔（Bill Maurer）阐明了硬币在仪式中的重要性。在许多文化中，提供象征性物品，如食物、石头、手工艺品和草药，是一种习惯。然而，随着公元前 500 年至前 600 年现代土耳其铸币的出现，人们基本上转向使用货币作为他们的选择。

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.

硬币通常带有图像、铭文和符号，可以唤起权威和主权的感觉，使它们特别适合仪式。毛雷尔表示，当有人捐赠一枚硬币时，他们就是在承认并尊重更高的权力。 “这与货币价值无关，而是人们认为硬币拥有的准魔法属性，”他解释道。

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

迷信的演变：超越水，进入幸运领域

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.

随着时间的推移，抛硬币的传统已经超越了其水生起源。德国图宾根大学的人类学家斯特凡·克姆尼切克 (Stefan Krmnicek) 专门研究历史上的铸币，他引用了东亚地区有记录的案例，人们在登机时将硬币扔进飞机涡轮机作为一种幸运符。 2017 年发生的一起著名事件中，一名 80 岁的妇女在上海的航班延误了 5 个小时，因为她在祈祷时扔的一枚硬币最终落入了引擎。

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，人们还在其他各种环境中寻求运气，包括据说具有治愈能力的牛津彭里斯之井，甚至还有船的木材。这种迷信超越了文化和社会经济水平，苏富比拍卖行的艺术品买家有时会在象头神甘尼萨（Ganesha）雕像的底座上留下硬币，甘尼萨是象征幸运和消除障碍的象头神。

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

硬币的命运：慈善、积累和象征性保存的故事

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.

对于一些知名喷泉来说，金币的积累可能是相当可观的。 2016 年，NBC 报道称，罗马特莱维喷泉收集了约 150 万美元的硬币。负责收集这些硬币的组织尚未提供最新数据，但硬币的庞大数量表明其具有巨大的货币价值。

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.

在儿童文学的虚构世界《巴兹尔·E·弗兰克韦勒夫人的混合档案》中，两个离家出走的孩子通过从纽约大都会艺术博物馆的喷泉中收集硬币而生存，并在此过程中积累了一笔不小的财富。

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.

私人喷泉也能产生可观的收入。据一位发言人称，位于明尼阿波利斯的美国购物中心每年从其喷泉中获得约 25,000 美元的收入。据报道，其他喷泉，包括迪士尼乐园和拉斯维加斯赌场的喷泉，每年都会积累数千美元。

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.

硬币的最终目的地各不相同。以特莱维喷泉为例，罗马城市工作人员每晚收集硬币后，天主教非营利组织收到硬币，并将其分发给慈善组织。美国购物中心还允许非营利组织申请喷泉捐赠的资金。

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，在某些情况下，硬币仍然留在喷泉内，也许是为了切实地提醒人们伴随着它们的愿望。路人通常不愿意收集它们，因为这被认为是不尊重的行为。正如毛雷尔所说，“人们通常不会保留这些钱；这会被认为是一种不好的行为。”

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.

抛硬币作为一种吉祥仪式经受住了时间的考验，融入了我们的文化习俗中。它的起源在于古老的信仰以及金钱和自然的力量。经过几个世纪和不同文化的演变，抛硬币仍然证明了人类对财富和保护的持久渴望，这是一种持续引起共鸣的希望象征姿态。