Kreislauf des Geldes monument (money cycle)

The Geldbrunnen stands in Aachen’s Elisengarten, at the end of Hartmannstraße. Karl-Henning Seemann created the bronze fountain in 1976 for the Sparkasse Aachen. It is often called simply the Geldbrunnen, or money fountain. The figures were restored in 2007 to keep their details sharp. Nearby, Seemann also made the Brander Stier, a bull sculpture unveiled the same year. The bronze group circles a shallow concrete basin unevenly. Warm water from Aachen’s thermal springs keeps the fountain flowing even in winter. The water turns counter-clockwise, matching the direction of the money’s imagined flow. Each figure shows a moment tied to money: greed, generosity, begging, and miserliness. A child watches its father count coins, linking the next generation to the cycle. Visitors walk around the warm basin and study the lively scenes. The figures stand at different heights so light catches them from many angles. Steam rises from the water on cold days, adding movement to the bronze. The Elisengarten’s trees frame the fountain, softening the city sounds. The warm water and bronze glow invite a closer look at every detail.