Coin

"For some reason, Coins appear when you smash enemies! Don’t think about it too hard, Einstein! There are some supernatural phenomena in the world that just can’t be explained!!"

- Wario

Coins (sometimes known as 1 Gold Coins or Yellow Coins, also called Mushroom coins in the Beanbean Kingdom) are the main currency of the Mushroom Kingdom. They can be collected in most Mario games. They have varying effects depending on the game type: In platformer games, they increase a player's score and grant extra lives; in racing games, they increase speed and recovery times; and in RPGs, they can be used to purchase items, all among other uses.

Mario Bros.
Coins first appeared in Mario Bros., where they were a rather uncommon item compared to later games. After defeating an enemy, they come out of the pipes and slide along the floor. If obtained, they give Mario or Luigi 800 points. A dollar sign ($) briefly appears whenever a coin is collected.

VS. Wrecking Crew / Wrecking Crew
In the bonus stages of the arcade game VS. Wrecking Crew, Mario must smash walls to find a hidden coin before the time runs out. In two-player mode, players compete in searching for the coin.

In Wrecking Crew, the NES version, a CPU-controlled character called Foreman Spike competes against the player during the bonus round. WarioWare Gold has a microgame based on this.

Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
In Super Mario Bros., coins are the most common items found in the game. They are found in every level, spawning from blocks or floating in the air. Coins are worth 200 points when collected, and collecting 100 coins gives Mario an extra life. Coins return in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, serving the same function.

Super Mario Bros. 2
In Super Mario Bros. 2, coins can be retrieved only by using a Magical Potion to create a door near unpicked grass. By going through this door, Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, or Toad can travel to Subspace and pluck the aforementioned grass, which in Subspace hold coins, which can be used in the Bonus Chance game to win extra lives.

Super Mario Advance introduces a new type of giant red coin called an Ace Coin. Regular coins are still only found in Subspace.

Super Mario Bros. 3
Coins reappear in Super Mario Bros. 3, once again as common items to be obtained. They can once again be found in blocks and floating in the air, and they grant Mario or Luigi an extra life when 100 of them are collected. Coins can also be obtained in the flip-the-card minigames. Switch Blocks, introduced in this game, can turn Brick Blocks into coins and vice versa; some Switch Blocks also cause a new type of coin, Blue Coins, to appear. Coins are also found in the 2-Player battle mode. If a player collects five coins, they win. In the player's status panel at the bottom of the screen, a dollar sign ($) is used to represent coins. This was changed to the Super Mario Land coin sprite in the remakes.

In Super Mario Advance 4, there is an Orange Switch e-Reader card that, when activated, turns enemies into moving coins if hit by Fire Mario's fireballs, as in Super Mario World and its Game Boy Advance remake. Also, thrown objects (like shells or Ice Blocks) can pick up coins in this version, being worth double if obtained this way.

Super Mario Land
Coins in Super Mario Land again have the same function as they did in previous games. They are commonly found in Mystery Blocks but are also mostly found in secret stashes or bunches. In this game, coins have a different sound effect compared to the rest of the entire franchise, which is reminiscent of Game Boy start-up jingle.

Super Mario World
In Super Mario World, coins act in nearly the same manner as in the previous games. In this game, however, Mario can also obtain coins by defeating enemies with fireballs. Enemies that Yoshi eats also count towards Mario's coin total.

If Mario or Luigi jumps on a Gray P Switch, all of the enemies will turn into Gray Coins, which do not count as normal coins but do count for points. Each coin collected gives multiplied points, up to 3-UP in the original game, or 5-UP in the Game Boy Advance port.

In most levels, Dragon Coins appear. Dragon Coins are large coins with an oval shape and a profile of Yoshi on them. If Mario collects five of them in a level (usually the maximum number found in a level, but sometimes not), he gets an extra life. In Super Mario Advance 2, Dragon Coins appear in every level, and if Mario collects them all, the Dragon Coins are replaced by Peach Coins, which serve the same function.

Additionally, coins from enemies will actually move around.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Coins are collected via usual means in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, but they are instead used to buy extra lives and power-ups through a gambling minigame whose stats can be changed depending on how much was spent.

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS


Coins are common once again in Super Mario 64 and its remake, Super Mario 64 DS. Unlike in its preceding games, coins have a star-shaped symbol and can be found by defeating enemies. In Super Mario 64 DS, the coins are fully modeled and, as a result, look octagonal. In this game, coins restore Mario's lost health as well as his oxygen when swimming underwater. Unlike in previous games, Mario gains an extra life for every 50 coins he collects each time he completes a level, but only up to three lives (no more than 150 coins). Collecting 100 coins in a level will grant Mario a Power Star. Red Coins reappear and are worth two regular coins. Both versions of the game track the highest number of coins collected in a course on the score screen. In Super Mario 64 DS, Yoshi is able to stick out his tongue and swallow coins to obtain them. Blue Coins also reappear and are found usually by ground-pounding Blue Coin Blocks or defeating certain enemies such as Boo or Mr. I. Blue Coins are worth five regular coins when collected.

Super Mario Sunshine
Coins also serve the same functions in Super Mario Sunshine, retaining their healing properties and granting Mario a life for every 50 collected. If Mario collects 100 coins in a region, a hidden Shine Sprite will be revealed to him. Blue Coins also return and are able to be traded in Delfino Plaza for Shine Sprites at 10 coins per Shine. Also, just as in Super Mario 64, top coin scores are once again tracked for each course, but with a Shine Sprite icon next to the count if Mario succeeded in reaching the 100-coin mark and collected the Shine Sprite that comes with it.

New Super Mario Bros.
In New Super Mario Bros., coins are found in many places. They can also be obtained by defeating enemies with fireballs, like in Super Mario World. Star Coins are found for the first time in this game. There are three of them in every level. They can be spent on unlocking bonus areas on the map that are blocked by Star Coin Signs and on backgrounds for the bottom screen. If the player collects all Star Coins and unlocks everything, the file receives three stars, indicating 100% completion. Red Rings are also present in this game. If the player touches the Red Ring, eight Red Coins appear. If the player collects all eight Red Coins, they receive a power-up or a 1-Up Mushroom, depending on the player's current condition.

Super Mario Galaxy
In Super Mario Galaxy, coins are much rarer in this game than in prior 3D games; Star Bits replaced coins as being a common item that grants Mario a life for every 50 collected. However, coins still do appear and, unlike Star Bits, can heal Mario when collected. Mario can acquire these coins by shooting a yellow spot on the ground or stomping an enemy instead of performing a star spin on it. Like in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, collecting 50 of these coins will earn Mario a life, but unlike those games, collecting 100 coins does not make a Power Star appear. Unlike Star Bits, losing a life in a level will cause the player to lose the coins he collected from the mission.

? Coins are also found in this game. They are bigger and cause miscellaneous effects, such as musical notes appearing to collect or producing a trail of Star Bits.

Purple Coins are also introduced in this game. In some of the missions in the game, Mario or Luigi needs to collect all 100 Purple Coins in a level in order to obtain a Power Star. They are scattered all over the galaxy and sometimes have a time limit to collect them all. It is possible that Purple Coins took the role of regular coins, since 100 Purple Coins are required to gain a Power Star.

As in previous 3D Mario titles, the top coin scores in each course are tracked on the Score screen, but also the top coin scores for each individual Power Star are tracked on the Star select screen for each course.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, coins, Red Coins, Dash Coins, Blue Coins, and Star Coins return. All serve the same function (the Blue Coins replace the Silver Coins), including the Red Ring reappearing. Star Coins are used for a different purpose, however. Collecting all Star Coins in each world will give the player access to the levels in World 9. Collecting all Star Coins in this game earns the player a star in the save file. During Kamek's boss fight, he occasionally uses his magic to turn platforms into coins.

Super Mario Galaxy 2


Coins return yet again in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They are a lot more common, and the player can usually find many of them in secret areas. They heal the player by one unit of health. Unlike in the other 3D Mario games, the requirement of an extra life is 100 coins as opposed to 50. This happens only when returning to Starship Mario, much like in Super Mario 64 and its remake.

Unlike in the first Super Mario Galaxy and other 3D Mario games, top coin scores are no longer tracked, replaced by a counter of the fastest time to each Star. However, the coins collected in a stage are added to a pool of coins that can eventually be used to buy spins of five Chance Cubes.

They also refill Mario's air supply slightly while underwater, as well as giving Bee Mario more flight time. Hungry Lumas in several galaxies may ask for coins instead of Star Bits.

A notably large coin appears in the Supermassive Galaxy; however, it is not a collectible item. Instead, Mario must wall-jump off of it in order to reach the top of a Mega ? Block. However, it still turns like a normal coin.

Super Mario 3D Land
Coins appear again in Super Mario 3D Land. As in the 2D games, coins are only used to give Mario an extra life for every 100 collected. Coins completely replace points in this game. Enemies now give coins, rather than dropping them, when stomped, ground-pounded, tail-whipped, touched while invincible, or upon grabbing the Goal Pole, which itself gives coins depending on how high Mario lands on it (except the top, which gives an extra life). At the end of every level (except for 2), one coin is gained for every 10 seconds remaining on the Time Limit counter. Coin Rings, yellow versions of Red Rings, also debut in this game; they give five coins when passed through.

Infinitely spawning enemies (such as those spawned from Baddie Boxes) stop giving coins after the third such enemy is defeated.

New Super Mario Bros. 2
Coins once again appear in New Super Mario Bros. 2, where they are extremely common and are the main emphasis of the game. A side-goal of the game is to collect 1,000,000 coins total, which awards the player with a gold Mario statue in the title screen; this changes to a gold Racoon Mario statue as an award for getting 9,999,999 coins. There are new power-ups that help Mario get large numbers of coins, including Gold Flowers (which turn Brick Blocks into coins, empty item-holding blocks, and make enemies give coins), Gold Blocks, (gilded Brick Blocks that give Mario coins automatically just by moving if worn), and Gold Rings (yellow variations of Red Rings that make enemies golden and give Mario coins for each one he defeats). Coins also have different denominations such as 10, or 100, and Roulette Coin Blocks can also give Mario a different number of coins.

New Super Mario Bros. U
Coins reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U, working as they do in the previous 2D games. Green Coins also debut in this game, working like Red Coins. In some levels, there are coins falling with parachutes, similar to some of the Red Coins from New Super Mario Bros. 2, coming in groups of one to three.

Super Mario 3D World
In Super Mario 3D World, coins are very common like in its predecessor and work similarly, though points are generally reinstated, as in the New Super Mario Bros. games; enemies still give or drop coins when defeated, however. In this game, there are also invisible coins, which can be revealed by passing through them, similarly to Dash Coins. The player can also use the Wii U GamePad to uncover them. Coin Stacks can be found in often-hidden places. An in-game stamp looks like a coin. Coin Rings also return but only give three coins. Green Coins also return, though only eight appear, and collecting them all in time reveals a Green Star.

Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2
Coins reappear in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS as objects that can be placed into a level. As of the software update released on March 9, 2016, the player can shake it to turn it into a Pink Coin.

In Super Mario Maker 2, coins and Pink Coins reappear, and 10-Coins, 30-Coins, and 50-Coins are introduced as usable course elements.

Super Mario Run
In Super Mario Run, coins can be used to buy items in the Shop, where they can be spent to buy decorations and other items for Kingdom Builder. They are counted, along with Toads, to determine the winner of a game of Toad Rally. There have been multiple Super Mario Run events that have multiplied the victor's coins by 1.5 at the end of the round. In Remix 10, a bubbled item will appear for every 100 coins collected (a Super Mushroom if the player is small, and a Super Star if they are Super).

Super Mario Odyssey
Coins return in Super Mario Odyssey; however, rather than giving an extra life for every 100 collected (as lives are absent), or healing Mario (as hearts fulfill this role), they are instead used as a global currency in this game and can be spent on clothing, Power Moons, and Life-Up Hearts in the Crazy Cap stores spread across the kingdoms. Also, Mario will lose 10 coins each time he dies, and they can be recollected on the same spot Mario died at (before they disappear), though they will automatically vanish if they fall into a hazardous substance (such as poison). Coin Rings, Coin Stacks, and invisible coins can also be found. This game also introduces regional coins, which can only be spent in the kingdoms in which they are found.

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Coins also appear in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, with a similar function as the Mario games. These coins can be obtained by finding them in air or in water, by destroying blocks, or by defeating enemies with a body slam. They come in two varieties, a normal coin and the 10 Gold Coin, which are worth ten coins. 10 Gold Coins can be used after getting at least ten coins and pressing Up+B. They can be used to activate checkpoints, defeat enemies, or open doors. They can also be found when Pouncer stomps on an enemy, when Pikkarikun zaps an enemy, when enemies are thrown at Chicken Ducks, or when Bē or Maizō are defeated.

Coins can be used to play minigames after each level. In one minigame, there are two buckets; one contains a 10-ton weight, which halves all the coins just collected in the level; the other contains a money bag, which doubles it. Wario must guess which bucket has the money bag; he can try this three times. In another minigame, Wario can spend coins to try to gain heart points or lives by throwing bombs at enemies.

Coins also affect the game's ending.

Wario's Woods
In Wario's Woods, coins make a reappearance whenever Toad manages to clear a round against Wario's monsters. The amount of coins being dropped from the top of the hollow tree depends on how fast Toad had cleared the round or how much bonus points he has acquired during the round. The coins add up to the amount of points Toad gains throughout the game.

Wario Land II
In Wario Land II, there are small coins which are worth one coin, and large Wario coins which are worth ten. Like before, coins can be gotten in mid-air/water, by defeating enemies with any attack, or by destroying blocks. Rarely, when defeating enemies, a silver coin worth 100 coins will appear; when this happens, a distinct sound effect will be heard. Also, when throwing one enemy at another (which means two enemies will be defeated simultaneously), even two silver coins can appear at once.

Unlike in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, coins can be lost whenever Wario gets hit by an enemy.

In this game, coins are used to play a minigame, which upon winning, will earn Wario a treasure. In this minigame, there is a picture of an enemy that appears, and there are eight tiles below, each with different enemies, that appear for a short time. 50, 100, or 200 coins can be spent; the more coins spent, the longer the tiles will appear, thus making it easier to get the treasure.

Wario Land 3
In Wario Land 3, there are regular gold coins worth 1 coin, and gray, red, green, and blue coins, all worth ten. Coins can only be found in blocks this time; defeating enemies no longer yields coins. However, there are also eight Musical Coins in each level, which are also worth ten. Musical Coins can also unlock a golf course; however, all eight coins must be collected in a level in one sitting, and this must be done in every level.

Unlike in Wario Land II, getting hit by enemies does not take away any coins.

The regular coins are used to play a golf-minigame, which appears in some levels in order to get some treasures.

Wario Land 4
In Wario Land 4, the Coins come in a variety of colors, all with different values. Like in the first two Wario Land games, defeating enemies can earn Wario Coins. However, getting hit by an enemy takes away coins (in addition to losing health). Asides from enemies, coins can be found by destroying blocks. There are also Diamonds in midair which are worth money as well. Opening a Jewel Piece Box, a Heart Box, a CD case and destroying a Pinball Block will each produce a Gold Coin. If 10,000 points' worth of coins are collected in each of the eighteen levels, a special Karaoke mode in the Sound Room is unlocked.

Coins are also used to play the three minigames in the Mini-Game Shop, which in turn can be used to gain medals. Medals can be used to buy items, which can assist Wario with defeating a boss.

Wario World
In Wario World, coins come in small and large sizes and are earned from defeating enemies and breaking objects. They also appear floating in bonus rooms. Coins are used to buy garlic from Garlic Dispensers, as well as to continue from where the player left off after they have lost all of their health. The cost increases as the game progresses.

Wario Land: Shake It!
In Wario Land: Shake It!, coins are mostly found floating in the air, but they can also be obtained from Coin Bags. They can be accumulated throughout the game and used to buy things from Captain Syrup's Pirate Shop. Collecting coins is also an objective for many missions in the game. There are different variants of coins, each adding a different value to the coin count: bronze, silver, gold, big silver, and big gold.

Yoshi
Coins appear in Yoshi, after the player clears levels 25 through 27 of the B-Type game, rewarding the player 1,200 points.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Coins are common throughout each level in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and its Game Boy Advance remake, Super Mario Advance 3. They act in the same manner as the previous games, but this game introduces Red Coins. Red Coins are disguised as regular coins in each level and will be exposed as red coins once the player collects them. As the player collects all red coins, the player will make the game closer to 100% completion.

Pictured: A normal Coin (left), a Red Coin under disguise as a yellow Coin (middle) and a Red Coin after being collected (right).

Yoshi Topsy-Turvy
Coins have a important role in Yoshi Topsy-Turvy. Yoshi is obliged to collect an amount set by the Spirit of Greed. If he collects the amounts required, he wins a Happiness Medal.

Yoshi's Island DS
The functions of the coins in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island DS are relatively the same. New coins are introduced which are bigger and portray the baby character's head on them. Collecting them will give the player a reward.

Yoshi's New Island
Coins return in Yoshi's New Island, where they serve their usual purpose.

Yoshi's Crafted World
Coins reappear in Yoshi's Crafted World, although since the game does not include lives, any coins collected in the level are added to an overall coin count, which can then be spent on capsule machines to earn costumes. The maximum amount of coins the player can hold is 9999. The coins depict a Yoshi's Egg on one side, and the number one on the other, a trait shared with Red Coins and Blue Coins.

Super Mario Kart
In Super Mario Kart, Coins are found on each course. Collecting them makes the Karts' top speed faster. When a player jostles another driver, gets hit by an item such as a Red or Green Shell, or falls off the course, the player loses Coins. Jostling a driver or falling without having any Coins results in sliding. There is an item providing the player with two extra Coins.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit
In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, coins have the same function as the ones in Super Mario Kart, but without the extra-coin item. There is an option in this game to remove the coins, but it is only applicable to Quick Run mode. There are 55 coins scattered in every track. Unlike the first game, a buzzer will go off if the player has 1 or 0 coins.

Mario Kart DS
In Mario Kart DS, coins are present only in Mission Mode, where players have missions to get all the coins in a course. They are varied and they can be formed either in a pattern in a battle course or a single line in a race. A boss fight that involves King Boo also involves players collecting coins while the players avoids King Boo.

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
In Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, coins can be collected in races, similar to Super Mario Kart and later games. They make the player speed up. Coins can be gained/lost by jostling other racers.

Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii also has Coins during the all new Coin Runners battle game. Players collect them by driving into them, but if they get hit by an item, the players lose coins. The team who has the most coins after the three minutes are up wins. In various tournaments, players can collect the set amount to finish the mission.

Mario Kart 7
In Mario Kart 7, Coins make a similar appearance as they did in Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Up to ten Coins can be collected for maximum speed. Also, collecting Coins during races allows players to unlock kart parts for their vehicle. Unlike the other two games, however, Coins collected will respawn on the track seconds later. Racers hit with an item will cause three of their Coins to fall onto the track, allowing other racers to collect them. The Coin Runners battle game also returns, but this time the time limit is two minutes and they can be battled by themselves. Collecting a coin causes a very small speed boost and like Super Mario Kart, they improve a Kart's top speed.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Coins return in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, serving the same purpose as in Mario Kart 7, being collectibles on the track that also raise the player's top speed. Like in Mario Kart 7, the player can once again only hold a maximum of ten coins. Vehicle parts are unlocked by collecting coins from races, Time Trials, online races, and battles (the latter only in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe). Coins collected by additional players are counted (only in the original game). Coins will count towards the player's coin total only for completed matches -- if the player collects coins then quits during a match, the coins from that race will not be added to their coin total. Coins are also made an item obtainable from Item Boxes, an item not seen since Super Mario Kart. It has the same functionality as in Super Mario Kart, giving the player an additional two coins. Due to an update in August 2014, it is now possible to view the exact number of coins collected through matches.

On Hyrule Circuit, coins are replaced with Rupees, on Animal Crossing, they are replaced with Bells, and on Urchin Underpass, they are replaced with Cash, the currencies of the series of origin (The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon, respectively). On Mute City and Big Blue, coins are not present on the track, but are instead, obtained from driving over recharge strips on the track, knocking them out of rival racers, or from Item Boxes.

Mario Kart Tour
Coins appear in Mario Kart Tour, where they work in a similar manner to previous entries. In this game, players can hold more than ten coins per race, like in Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and coins from Item Boxes are automatically used. The player is given points for every coin they get in a race. Red and Blue Coins also appear in Gold Rush and various challenges. Coins can be used in the shop to buy drivers, karts, gliders, item tickets and point-boost tickets.

Mario Party series
Coins are needed to win a game in the Mario Party series. Without coins, the player cannot purchase stars, the main item in order to win, or items that can help the player or hinder opponents. Coins can be acquired by landing on a Blue Space, certain Happening Spaces, and Donkey Kong Spaces. Also, ten coins are acquired every time a player wins a minigame or when the game begins. Coin minigames exist, which can make the player receive a certain number of coins depending on the coins found in this game. Coins can also be acquired via battle minigames, where a set amount of coins must be donated into a pot. Once the minigame has ended, the number of coins in the pot is given to the players, depending on how well they do in the minigames. Due to the difference in gameplay, coins do not appear in Mario Party 9. Coins appear in Mario Party: Island Tour, but only in the minigame Deck Hunt. Coins serve their original purpose in Mario Party 10's amiibo Party mode, though they are still absent from the game's Mario Party and Bowser Party modes.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Coins appeared in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! and Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move. They are collected to raise score, a large coin worths 5 small coins. In the first two games: by collecting 100 small coins, the player gets an M-Token.

Super Smash Bros. series
Different types of Coins called Smash Coins also appear in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl Coin battle matches. In these matches, coins can be earned when a player hits another. The player may lose coins if they were sent flying off-screen and the coins lost can be received by the opposing players or collect back. If they were turned into a star, the coins will be lost in the background.

Coins are also needed to operate the lottery machine in Super Smash Bros. Melee and the Coin Launcher in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. These coins are used to get trophies and stickers.

Coins are produced from Mario's, Dr. Mario's (in Super Smash Bros. Melee) and Luigi's attack (when sourspotted only), Super Jump Punch, using their design from Super Mario 64 up until Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where their design is based on the Star Coins from the New Super Mario Bros. series of games. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, when Mario's cap becomes Cappy, the coins are replaced by regional coins from the Metro Kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey (though this is exclusive to Mario), which use the same sound effect from the original game.

While collectible Coins from the Mario series never appeared in the first three Super Smash Bros. games, they appear in the Golden Plains stage in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. Collecting 100 of these turns the character gold and increases their attack power and launch resistance for a period of time.

Paper Mario
In Paper Mario, Coins are fairly common. They appear whenever an enemy is defeated. However, when Mario runs away from a battle, he loses coins. Coins are found not only in ? Blocks, but also in trees, bushes, and other hidden areas. To get a single coin from a tree, Mario has to use his Hammer to make the tree shake so that the single coin falls down. To find the single coin in a bush, Mario simply tries to search a bush when he goes near one. Coins are used to buy items or badges in the games.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Coins return in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. They have the same use as in Paper Mario.

Super Paper Mario
Super Paper Mario explains that Coins came from the Sammer Guy warrior Footsteps of Coins, who is the one who purposely drops coins around the universe. However, this explanation is merely part of Footsteps of Coin's opening speech, so its accuracy can be considered poor. In the game, each enemy releases coins when defeated. The stronger the enemy, the more coins are released. Some items also increase the number of coins gained after defeating an enemy. Coins serve as currency to buy items (or, after the end of the game, the rare Pixl Tiptron). A total of 999 coins can be held by Mario in this game; any more will disappear. In this game, coins can also be gained using the Happy Flower to produce coins, or selling items for coins. Because of the more platformer-style gameplay compared to previous and succeeding entries, fleeing from an enemy will not have the player lose coins.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star
In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Coins appear when hitting a ? Block, jumping on an enemy after all its HP is gone, and in secret areas. The main purpose of Coins is to buy stickers or Things, to use the Battle Spin or to get three sections of the spinner to match up, or pay the enemies bullying Toads in some areas. In this game, Mario can hold up to 9,999 coins. A perfect bonus will also give the player coins. Unlike the previous installments, Mario no longer loses coins when fleeing from battle.

Paper Mario: Color Splash
In Paper Mario: Color Splash, Coins appear when hitting a ? Block, jumping on an enemy after all its HP is gone, and in secret areas. The main purpose of Coins is to buy Battle Cards or Things, or to use the Battle Spin. In this game, Mario can hold up to 9,999 coins. A perfect bonus will also give the player coins. Mario must collect a minimum of 25 coins using Cannonballs to complete a section of the Violet Passage. Wendy O. Koopa can use coins against Mario in her battle; unlike in other games, thrown coins also hurt Mario when collected.

Luigi's Mansion
Coins are the most common treasure in Luigi's Mansion. They are worth 5,000 G, and can be found all over the mansion. Whenever Luigi takes damage, he loses the number of Coins equal to half the damage he takes (rounded down), which disappear if they are not reclaimed quickly enough.

The rare Red Diamond is worth the same as a gold coin. King Boo's Crown is also worth the same.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Coins reappear in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, but with a more octagonal shape. They are just 1 G instead of 5,000 G but are still found everywhere. Red Coins also appear in this game.

Luigi's Mansion 3
Coins reappear in Luigi's Mansion 3, where they act as they did in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon.

Mario Golf series
Coins appear in Coin-collecting challenges on courses in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Golf: World Tour. They make up various formations, from basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles, to unique ones like clouds, fishes, and clovers. In these challenges, when selecting where to aim the shot, the Coins spin faster when the ball's path will go into them, and it attracts the Coins as it flies close to and through them. For Toadstool Tour, the Coins take their Super Mario 64 appearance, and the challenges are in the form of regular games, where the player must collect as many Coins as possible while finishing on or below par. In World Tour, the Coins return to their regular form, and are awarded to the players for completing challenges, finishing rounds, and as prizes for finishing tournaments. Coins can be used to purchase golf gear in the Castle Club, and are seen in Mario Golf challenges and Character Costume Challenges. These challenges are unique that they do not act like regular rounds, therefore there are no flags and cups on the greens. Instead, without having to worry about sinking the ball, players collect a set amount of Coins by hitting the ball through them in two strokes less than the hole's par. In Quick Round, the Coins may or may not appear on the course when playing on them. But when going on practice rounds through the Castle Club, the Coins are always there. Obtaining Coins in any way adds them to the player's coin total.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga introduces Beanbean coins. At the beginning of the game, Bowser gets stuck in a cannon in Stardust Fields, and Tolstar demands 100 coins to release him. However, no matter how many coins the player currently has, the exchange rate always translates to 10 Beanbean coins, and Tolstar orders the bros. to find 100 coins around Stardust Fields. Later in the game, Prince Peasley makes a bet of 99,999,999,999,999 Mushroom coins with Mario and Luigi over who would find the pieces of the Beanstar first. Mario and Luigi win, and Prince Peasley rewards them with the promised coins. However, since they are Mushroom coins, the exchange rate translates into only 99 Beanbean coins. Coins are obtained from blocks or winning battles, and are used to buy items, badges, or equipment from shops. In the original game, the player can also lose coins if they run away from battles.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Regular coins return in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. They can be obtained through hitting blocks or by defeating enemies. In some places, there are larger yellow coins and blue coins that can only be obtained by spinning Baby Mario and Baby Luigi through the air and into the tornado, making them soar farther and descending to collect the coins. Like Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, coins are also used for currency in this game. 10 Coins, 20 Coins and giant coins also appear, and they are worth ten, twenty, and one hundred coins each, respectively.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story also has a similar way of collecting coins very much like the previous games. Most coins are found in blocks and by defeating enemies. Coins are needed to buy more accessories and items to help the player out.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team also has a similar way of collecting coins very much like the previous games. Most coins are found in blocks and by defeating enemies. Coins are needed to buy more accessories and items to help the player out. Larger Coins, with values up to 100, can be found in hard-to-reach places as rewards. Also, unlike in previous installments, neither of the bros lose coins for fleeing in battle.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Coins reappear in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, obtainable and usable as in the previous installments. Coins can also be found in Drill Spots.

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
Coins appear in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour of the Coin Shoot mode. They can be collected when the ball collides into them.

Mario Baseball series
In both Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers, coins play a role in both of the challenge modes and both of the Toy Fields. Coins are needed in both games to buy items to either unlock events or help the player when they are playing with someone else. In Toy Field, coins are needed to win the game, and coins could be obtained by hitting an RBI or the Hit spaces in the field. Though similar, both Toy Fields have different ways of getting coins, such as shooting an item at an opposing player in Mario Super Sluggers or get a right item in a slot in Mario Superstar Baseball.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3
Coins can be obtained by dribbling the ball on the ? Panels on the ground in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. The more coins the player obtains, the more points the player can earn if they make a basket. Coins can also be obtained by rubbing the stylus before slam dunking, but it is risky and the player is vulnerable when they do that. Each team can carry up to 100 coins in this game.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Coins appear in the Dream Canoe event in the Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, where the objective of the event is to collect as many of them as possible within the time limit. They initially appear scattered around the area, but can also be stolen from other players as the event goes on.

Mario Sports Mix
Coins yet make another appearance in Mario Sports Mix. Their uses vary between sports and they can be obtained for scoring in the sports Basketball, Volleyball, and Hockey. Another use for it is to raise the attack power in Dodgeball, and one is used as a puck in Hockey.

Mario Tennis Open
Coins are awarded for playing Special Games in Mario Tennis Open. They appear in two of them. One of those is Galaxy Rally, where players earn two Coins when they hit the ball at a Star Chip, and when more are hit consecutively, the number of Coins given increases by two. Hitting the ball at a Launch Star awards the player with five Coins, and when it is hit more times in a row, the number of Coins it gives increases by five. Coins are also seen in Super Mario Tennis, where hitting the ball at them on the screen on the wall extends the time. Coins are used to buy tennis gear in the Clubhouse.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Coins reappear in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker acting as they have in previous games. Instead of having the time limit for each level, the game keeps track the highest number of coins earned for each level. Like Super Mario 3D World, Coins can also appear in stacks, and invisible coins can be revealed by walking through them or touching them on the GamePad. Every 100 coins collected results in an extra life.

Besides collecting the coins themselves, Coins can also be collected by tapping posters found on walls, holding a Flaptor for a few seconds using the touchscreen on the GamePad, defeating most enemies (except Bullet Bills and Bull's-Eye Bills, which only yield a single Coin per Bill Blaster), throwing a Turnip at something, or collecting a Super Mushroom while already in Super form, which results in 10 coins.

If Captain Toad or Toadette loses a life, they lose all their coins collected within that level (except for Mummy-Me Maze, Mummy-Me Maze Returns, and Mummy-Me Maze Forever). Many Bonus Objectives require the player to collect a certain amount of coins within a level.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, coins can be collected in the overworld or by achieving a "Golden Shot" from defeating an enemy. They are used to purchase new weapons.

Club Nintendo
In Club Nintendo, Nintendo's defunct rewards program, coins were used as currency to purchase downloadable games, content, and Nintendo-themed merchandise.

Super Mario Chess
In the board game Super Mario Chess, Coins are used as pawn pieces on the "heroes" side.

Monopoly Gamer
In the board game Monopoly Gamer, coins replace the paper money used in standard Monopoly. Coins come in two denominations: "Golden Coins" worth one coin and "Five Coins," which are larger and worth five coins. Coins are made from either cardboard (in the Standard Editions of the game) or plastic (in the "Collector's Edition"). Coins are used to buy Properties on the board or in Auctions and pay Rent & Jail fees. Some portions of the game force players to drop a given number of coins on their current space (usually by a roll of a Red Shell, Green Shell, or POW Block on the "Power-Up Die"), where the next player who lands on or passes over that space can pick them up. At the end of the game, every five coins a player has (rounded down) earns the player 10 points toward their final score (points are also earned by Properties owned and Bosses defeated in the game). Two-coin sides also appear on the "Power-Up Die." Rolling the coins normally allows the player to collect three coins from the Bank, although certain characters may have a "Power-Up Boost" that enhances or changes this power-up.

Other appearances
In the Pikmin short "Occupational Hazards," a Red Pikmin exits a green pipe that contained coins. The Red Pikmin also has dust on his face that makes him resemble Mario.

In the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack in Minecraft, Gold Ingots are replaced by Coins. There is also a painting of a Coin.

In Sonic Lost World, the Coins from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island replace the rings in Yoshi's Island, dubbed as "Yoshi's Island Zone" in-game.

Yellow Coins
Yellow Coins are the main types of coins found in the Mario franchise. They are found everywhere, ranging from floating in the air, acquiring them through blocks, or by defeating enemies. Generally in Mario side-scrolling games, they are worth 50, 100 or 200 points. Collecting either 50 or 100 in certain games will make the player earn an extra life. Yellow Coins are the primary normal coins in most games.

Red Coins


Red Coins are uncommon, but not rare in the Mario series. They first appeared as coins disguised as yellow coins in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, but later on, they are found in certain parts of a level or scattered throughout the level. They are worth more than Yellow Coins, as each Red Coin is worth two Yellow Coins in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, and collecting eight of them reveals a Power Star. Likewise, in Super Mario Sunshine, a Shine Sprite appears when eight Red Coins are collected. In Mario Party DS they are worth 5 Yellow Coins, replacing Money Bags from previous Mario Party games. Their function varies from game to game, but the player usually has to collect eight of them to do something. In New Super Mario Bros. and its sequels, the player is granted an item such as a Fire Flower upon collecting 8 Red Coins.

Blue Coins


Blue Coins are either part of completion of a game or another way of getting more coins. In Super Mario 64, they are found by defeating certain enemies or ground-pounding a Blue Coin Block. They are worth five Yellow Coins each as opposed to one. Blue Coins are found in hidden parts in Super Mario Sunshine, and are required in order to complete the game 100%, as ten Blue Coins can be spent to get a Shine Sprite. In most other games, they appear after a P Switch is pressed, and are worth one coin each.

Purple Coins


Purple Coins are found only in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 when a Purple Comet is orbiting a galaxy. Purple Coins can appear throughout a level, or they can appear in a certain spot. If the player can collect 100 Purple Coins (sometimes within a time limit), they can receive a Star. Unlike regular coins, Purple Coins do not heal lost health or restore breath while underwater

? Coins


? Coins are found in Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel. These coins do not count as normal coins, but they have many uses. Often, they make Coins, Star Bits, Power-Ups, and notes appear. In the Gusty Garden Galaxy, they even make other ? Coins appear.

Dragon Coins


Found only in Super Mario World and remakes, these will grant Mario a life when all five collected in each level. Some levels have fewer Dragon Coins than other levels, but there are always at least five Dragon Coins. They are bigger than regular coins, and they have a portrait of Yoshi on them.

Frog Coins


Frog Coins are a green coin exclusive to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, and act as a second currency only accepted by amphibian characters. They can be exchanged for rare items at certain shops.

Star Coins


Star Coins are a type of Coin only found in New Super Mario Bros. games. There are three Star Coins in every level (except Warp Cannons, Enemy Courses and Toad's Houses). There are 240 in New Super Mario Bros. and 219 in New Super Mario Bros. 2, where they serve for unlocking secret paths and in the former, unlocking new backgrounds for the touchscreen. Also, there are 231 in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and 246 in New Super Mario Bros. U and they serve for unlocking World 9/Superstar Road levels and in the former, buying Hint Videos for Princess Peach's Castle. Their locations, function, and size are similar to that of Dragon Coins.

Ace Coins
Ace coins only appear in Super Mario Advance and there are 5 Ace Coins hidden in each level. Their role in the game is the same as the Dragon Coin in Super Mario World. There are 100 Ace Coins in all. They are oval and have the letter "A" engraved on them.

Advance Coin
Advance Coins are special coins that appear exclusively in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. They appear only in the new World-e levels. They are similar to Ace Coins in appearance, except for the fact that they're yellow.

Moon Coins
Moon Coins appear in New Super Mario Bros. 2, and are only found in World Star. They have a 3-Up Moon imprinted on them. These coins replace the Star Coins of other worlds in the game. However, Moon Coins cannot be used as Star Coins (therefore they cannot be used to remove Star Coin Signs). Moon Coins are only used for collecting and are required to obtain one of the stars on the player's save file.

Green Coins
Green Coins have appeared in New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, Super Mario 3D World and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Green Coins are activated by moving through a Green Ring. In the New Super Mario Bros. games, they act much like Red Coins, but these coins disappear much faster and five groups of three need to be collected. They always appear in groups of three and form a clover shape. In Super Mario 3D World, eight coins appear, and collecting them all results in a Green Star appearing.

Mario Coins
Mario Coins have appeared in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX. These are used to earn prizes.

Regional Coins
Regional coins are coins appearing only in Super Mario Odyssey. They are different in appearance in each kingdom, and can only be used in the kingdom they are found in. They are also purple in color.

Super Mario Bros.

 * Wii Virtual Console manual: "Collect 100 Coins for a 1-Up."

Super Mario Bros. 2

 * Wii Virtual Console manual: "Each coin gives you an additional chance to win extra lives in the bonus game."

Super Mario Bros. 3

 * Wii Virtual Console manual: "Collect 100 of these to gain an extra life."
 * 3DS Virtual Console manual: "Collect 100 coins to earn an extra Mario."

Super Mario World

 * Wii U Virtual Console manual: "Collect 100 coins to earn an extra life."

Super Mario Sunshine

 * Instruction booklet: "Coins are scattered all over the island. Collect them to restore health to Mario's life meter. What happens when Mario gathers 100 coins...?"

Super Mario 3D Land

 * Instruction manual: "You'll gain an extra life if you collect 100 of these."
 * North American Website Bio: "The mushroom kingdom is overflowing with coins. You'll find them hiding under question blocks, grass, enemies, and more. You'll get a 1UP for every 100 that you find, so look far and wide to get as many as you can."
 * European Website Bio: "Coins can be found all over the place. Collect 100 for an extra life!"

New Super Mario Bros. 2

 * Instruction manual: "Collect 100 to earn an extra life."

New Super Mario Bros. U

 * Instruction manual: "Collect 100 coins to earn an extra life."

Super Mario 3D World

 * Instruction manual: "Collect 100 coins to get an extra life."

Super Mario Kart

 * Wii Virtual Console manual (Game Modes): "In MarioKart GP and Match Race, you can collect coins scattered across the racecourse. The more coins you collect, the faster your kart goes. If you have no coins left and you get hit, you will spin out. If you spin out, hit other karts, or go out of bounds, you lose coins, so be careful!"
 * "Note: Your kart reaches its maximum speed at 10 coins, but it never hurts to carry spares, so keep on collecting them!"
 * Wii Virtual Console manual (Items): "Using the coin item adds two coins to your coin total."

Mario Kart 7

 * North American Website bio: "Scattered throughout each track, these golden goodies will boost your speed when you collect them. Your speed maxes out when you have 10 coins. Also, the more coins you collect, the more kart parts you unlock!"

Mario Kart 8

 * Instruction manual (Item List): "Gives you two extra coins."
 * Instruction manual (Grand Prix): "Collect the coins found on the courses, up to a maximum of 10, to increase your speed. If you get knocked over or spin out of control, you will drop some of your coins."

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

 * Instruction manual: "Collect 100 coins to earn one extra life."

Yoshi's Crafted World

 * North American website bio: "Usually found floating in the air. Use in-game coins you collect to give the capsule machine a spin."

Trivia

 * The Poko from Pikmin 2 bears a striking resemblance to coins.
 * "Koopabits" in the Nintendo Comics System stories are worth one coin.
 * Although coins aren't given an on-screen appearance in the Super Mario Bros. movie, they were alluded to by an old woman mugging the Mario Bros., where she refers to them as Koopa Coins.
 * The of  play the coin sound effect from Super Mario Bros. for each scoring runner.