The Trevi Fountain may date back to the 1700s, but the tradition of wishing on a coin and throwing it into the fountain is actually much newer — in fact, it can be traced back to the Academy Award-winning 1954 film "Three Coins in the Fountain." The ritual of throwing a coin with your right hand backward over your left shoulder into the fountain has caught on in a big way since then; workers have to sweep the fountain nightly to keep all of the thrown coins from building up, with the proceeds going to the Catholic non-profit Caritas to help those in need, because good karma is the best kind of luck.

Entrepreneurs take note: while this 8th-century Kyoto shrine is dedicated to the god of rice and sake, it is also renowned as a go-to spot for the business-minded who are looking for a little luck. The walk through the orange torii-gated paths is spectacular on its own, but for maximum luck payoff make your way to the sub-shrines at the top of the summit to make sure your next business venture is a big success.

Above the marketplace of this Bavarian hub towers the Schöner Brunnen, a 14th century fountain in the shape of an elegant Gothic sire. Though the intricate carvings and gilded peaks would be plenty to make this fountain an icon, it holds a special reputation among those looking for luck thanks to two rings embedded in the grate around the fountain that are said to bring good fortune to those who spin them.

There's no shortage of statues of the 16th president at his tomb in Springfield, Illinois, but luck-seekers need to pay special attention to the large bronze bust in front of the memorial. Based on a sculpture by Gutzon Borglum (you might recognize his work from Mount Rushmore) the likeness sits on a granite pedestal in front of the tomb where thousands of visitors, including a few politicians, keep his nose rubbed-to-gleaming for good luck.

Rubbing the belly of a laughing Buddha is a long-held tradition for courting good fortune, but the numerous Buddha statues at this large monastery in southeast China may have a belly up on the rest. Legend has it that the Buddha figure from the series of rock carvings named "The Peak That Flew Hither," outside of the temple entrance, is the origin of the tradition, inspiring luck-hungry visitors from all over the globe to come and give the Buddha a friendly pat.

Take a stroll over to the south side of the Mercato Nuovo in this ancient Italian city to pick up one thing that's bound to be on everyone's shopping list: good luck. The bronze statue of a boar affectionately known as Il Porcellino ("the piglet" in Italian) is said to grant visitors who place a coin in his mouth and rub his snout not only good luck, but also a guarantee to come back to Florence one day, which sounds pretty lucky all on its own.