Lentils are the Italian New Year's Eve food traditionally associated with prosperity because they resemble coins.
In Italy, lentils are commonly served around New Year, often with cotechino or zampone, two pork preparations. Their small, round shape and coin-like appearance support the symbolism of wealth and financial good fortune for the coming year.
Food customs vary among Italian regions and families, so lentils are part of a broader set of New Year traditions rather than a single mandatory national menu. The association is symbolic: eating the dish does not represent a historical currency ritual, but a wish for abundance.