Yellow Coin

Yellow Coins (sometimes known as Yellow Star Coins) were the primary type of coin featured in Super Mario 64 (and Super Mario 64 DS). A single Yellow Star Coin would increase Mario's (or one of his friends') coin total by one when acquired. These coins could also be collected to (surprisingly) recover HP. Again, one Yellow Star Coin would recover one HP. If Mario collected fifty coins on a stage, he would be rewarded with an Extra Life after collecting a Power Star. If the plumber collected one hundred coins in one course, the plumber would not only earn a secret Power Star, but would also gain two extra lives upon leaving the level. Weak enemies often yielded Yellow Star Coins when defeated, allowing Mario to increase his coin total (and recover his health).

Yellow Coins also appeared in Super Mario Sunshine with the same purpose as in Super Mario 64. However, when the player collects 100 coins, the Shine Sprite will not appear right above Mario, but will instead appear at a set area. There are some Yellow Coins that are fakes since they don't spin and move. They are actually Boos with coins inside them. They only appeared in Sirena Beach's hotel. Just as with the fake Blue Coins, if the player controlling Mario gets too close to a "coin", the Boo will appear.

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 also featured Yellow Coins, but in that game, their only use was to restore Mario's health. Yellow Coins didn't offer Mario any stars if he collected 100 of them; that task was taken over by the Purple Coins.

The Yellow Coins also appear in the Super Smash Bros. series, when Mario or Dr. Mario performing their B up move, Super Jump Punch. Luigi is also able to make one Yellow Coin appear by non-sweetspotting his B up.