Kreislauf des Geldes ("Money Cycle" Fountain), Aachen

Kreislauf des Geldes was created in 1976 by sculptor Karl-Henning Seemann. The fountain uses bronze figures to show how money moves through society. They are placed around a round basin, with water flowing steadily in a circle. The scene does not rely on text or explanation. Instead, the figures and their gestures make the idea easy to understand at a glance.

Each figure shows a different way people relate to money. There is a figure holding money tightly to show greed, another guarding a purse to suggest stinginess, and one giving money away as a sign of patronage. A beggar represents poverty, while a father talking to his son shows how ideas about money are passed on. All figures reach toward the next, so money moves from hand to hand, highlighting that it changes owners through human interaction.

The water in the basin flows constantly, reinforcing the idea of a continuous cycle. Even in winter, it does not freeze, as the water is warmed using waste heat from the nearby Sparkasse building. Visitors often walk around the fountain to follow the figures in order, which supports the idea of money constantly moving through different hands.