The "Fontana del Porcellino" sits on the south side of the Mercato Nuovo but was original intended by Medici to be placed in the Boboli gardens. It is also called Il Porcellino, which means Italian Piglet. Porcellino is known as a good luck charm in Florence, which is a bronze statue of a Wild Boar. Sitting on a pile of leave scattered with acorns represents this wild boar. Also in the statue, you can find a tortoise, a snail, several lizards, and some frogs. Pietro Tacca designed it around the year of 1634. The original Porcellino is now housed in the Uffizi Gallery. The statue today is a replica of the one that once stood on the east side of the market. The legend says that if you put a coin in his mouth of the wild boar and when the coin falls through into the water, you then rub his noise and it will ensure that you will return to the city of Florence again. The money left in the fountain is distributed to charity organizations in the city. The reason why the snout is so shiny is from all the people rubbing it for good luck.
Sources:
http://www.aviewoncities.com/florence/mercatonuovo.htm
http://www.theflorentine.net/articles/article-view.asp?issuetocId=6265
Sources:
http://www.aviewoncities.com/florence/mercatonuovo.htm
http://www.theflorentine.net/articles/article-view.asp?issuetocId=6265