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 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 platformer games to increase a player's score and grant 1-Ups, and can be used in RPGs to purchase items, among other uses.

Mario Bros.
Coins first appeared in Mario Bros., where they were a very rare item. After defeated the enemy, they come out of the pipes and slide along the floor. If obtained, they give Mario or Luigi 800 points.

In this game and Super Mario Bros. 3, a dollar sign ($) is used to represent Coins. This was changed to a coin-shaped symbol in the remakes.

Super Mario Bros.
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.

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Coins are also commonly found in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. They serve the same function and appearance as Super Mario Bros., which they grant Mario a life by collecting 100 of them.

Super Mario Bros. 2
In Super Mario Bros. 2, Coins can be retrieved only by using a Magic Potion to create a door near unpicked Vegetables. By going through this door, Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, or Toad can travel to Subspace and pick the aforementioned Vegetables, which while in Subspace become extra point-rewarding Coins.

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

In both games, coins can be used in the Bonus Chance game to win extra lives.

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 grant Mario or Luigi an extra life when 100 are collected. Coins can also be obtained in the flip-the-card minigames. P-Switches, introduced in this game, can turn Brick Blocks into coins, and vice versa; some P-Switches also cause a new type of coin, the Silver Coin, to appear. Coins are also found in the 2-Player battle mode. If a player collects 5 coins, he or she wins.

In the Game Boy Advance remake, there is an orange e-Switch that, when activated, turns enemies into moving coins if hit by fireballs, resembling the effect in Super Mario World and its Game Boy Advance remake. Also, in the remakes, the symbol used is the same as the coin sprite from Super Mario Land.

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 grey switch, all of the enemies will turn into grey coins, which don't 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 all of them in a level (normally five), he gets an extra life. In Super Mario Advance 2, if Mario collects all Dragon Coins in every level there are Dragon Coins, there will be a scene and after that, the Dragon Coins are replaced by Peach Coins, which serve the exact same function.

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS


Coins are common once again in Super Mario 64 and its remake, Super Mario 64 DS. Unlike its preceding games, Coins have a star-shaped symbol and can be found by defeating enemies. In Super Mario 64 DS, the coins are octagonal. In this game, coins restore Mario's lost health. Unlike previous games, Mario gains an extra life for every 50 coins he collects each time he completes a level. 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 debut in this game. They are found usually by ground-pounding on Blue Coin switches 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 ten 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 blocks or in Coin Heaven, just like Super Mario Bros.. They can also be obtained by defeating enemies with fireballs, like in Super Mario World. Star Coins are also found in this game. There are three of them in every level. They can be spent on unlocking bonus areas on the map, and they can also be spent on unlocking backgrounds for the bottom screen. If the player collects all Star Coins and unlocks everything, the file will receive three stars, indicating 100% completion. Red Coin Rings are also present in this game. If the player touches the Red Coin Ring, eight Red Coins will appear. If the player collects all eight Red Coins, they will receive a power-up or a 1-Up, which will depend on the player's current condition.

Super Mario Galaxy
In Super Mario Galaxy, coins are much rarer in this game than when they appear in the other preceding 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, they can heal Mario when collected. Mario can acquire these Coins by shooting a yellow spot on the ground or stomping on an enemy instead of performing a star spin on it. Like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, collecting 50 of these Coins will earn Mario a life, but unlike both games, collecting 100 Coins does not make a Power Star appear, but instead it will grant Mario two extra lives. 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 music 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's 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 will earn the player a star in the save file.

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 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 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 give Bee Mario more flight time. Hungry Lumas in several galaxies may ask for coins instead of Star Bits.

A notable giant 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 massive Question Block.

Super Mario 3D Land
Coins appear again in Super Mario 3D Land. Unlike the other 3D games, coins do not recover health instantly, but they still give Mario an extra life when one hundred are collected. Also, at the end of every level (except for the final boss), each of the remaining 10 seconds on the time limit counter are converted to one coin, a similar way to the fact that in side-scrolling games, the remaining time gets converted into points.

New Super Mario Bros. 2
Coins once again appear in New Super Mario Bros. 2, where they are very common and one of the main focal points of the game. The goal of the game is actually to collect one million coins. There is also an award for getting 9,999,999 coins. There will also be new Power-Ups that help Mario get huge amounts of coins, including the Gold Flower which turns Brick Blocks into coins, a golden Brick Block which Mario wears on his head that gives him coins automatically just by moving, and Gold Rings, the yellow variations of Red Rings that make enemies golden giving Mario five coins for each one he defeats. Gold Coins also have different denominations such as 10, or 100, and Roulette Blocks can also give Mario a different number of coins.

New Super Mario Bros. U
Coins reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U serving as in the previous 2D games. There is also a new type of Green Coins, which similar to the Red Coins. In some levels, there are coins falling with parachute-like Red Coins from New Super Mario Bros. 2.

Super Mario 3D World
In Super Mario 3D World, coins are very common like in its predecessor. Although one hundred coins still worth one extra life, they are no longer counted for the score. 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. Stacks of coins can be found in secret places, and worth five coins each. A Coin is also a Stamp.

Super Mario Land
Coins in Super Mario Land again have the same function as they did in previous games. They are commonly found in ? Blocks and are also mostly found in secret stashes or bunches.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Coins have a very important role in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. Six Golden Coins are actually the key to Mario's Castle, and Wario had scattered these Coins across Mario Land. Each Golden Coin is guarded by a different creature; Kurosu, Tatanga, Ricky, Sabasa, the Three Little Pigheads, and Pako are all guardians of the Coins. Regular Coins can also be used to buy extra lives and power-ups through a gambling minigame whose stats can be changed depending on how many Coins were spent.

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, when Bē is defeated, or when crabs (in course 6) 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 doesn't 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 Frog Medals. These Frog Medals can be used to buy Items, which can assist Wario with defeating a boss.

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's Story
Coins with hearts imprinted on them appear throughout each level. Each coin is worth a single point when collected.

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.

Mario is Missing!
In Mario is Missing!, Luigi has to return coins to the Trevi Fountain in Rome which were stolen by Koopa Troopas. Legend says that whoever throws coins into the fountain will return to Rome one day. When Luigi returns the coins, he is rewarded $1500.

Super Mario Kart
In Super Mario Kart, Coins are found at 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.

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 Wii
Mario Kart Wii also has Coins, but 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
Coins return in Mario Kart 8, 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 Grand Prix, VS Mode, Time Trials, and online races. Coins collected by additional players are counted. Coins will count towards the player's coin total only for completed races -- if the player collects coins then quits during a race, 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 amount of coins collected through races.

On the downloadable course Hyrule Circuit, coins are replaced with Rupees to fit with the theme of the track, and on Mute City coins are not present on the track, but are instead obtained from diving over panels on the track or from Item Boxes.

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. 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 differ of gameplay, coins don't appear in Mario Party 9. Coins appear in Mario Party: Island Tour, but only in the minigame Deck Hunt.

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.

While 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 series
In the Paper Mario series, Coins are fairly common. Coins 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.

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 Super Paper Mario, 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.

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 Spinner 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 9999 coins. A perfect bonus will also give the player coins. Unlike the previous installments, Mario no longer loses coins when fleeing from battle.

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 5000 G but are still found everywhere. Red Coins also appear in this game.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga introduces Beanbean Coins. Prince Peasley made a bet of 99,999,999,999,999 Mushroom Kingdom 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 Kingdom Coins, the exchange rate translates into only 99 Beanbean Coins. Coins are used to buy items, badges, or equipment from shops. 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 Gold Coins, 20 Blue Coins and 100 Gold 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 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 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 Sports Mix
Coins yet make another appearance in Mario Sports Mix. Their uses vary between sports and they are known to 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 hockey puck in Hockey. Teams can only hold up to ten at a time instead of 100 in Mario Hoops 3-on-3.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Coins are set to reappear in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker acting as they have in previous games. Instead of having the time limit for each level, the game keep track the highest number of coins earned for each level.

Mario Maker
Coins are set to reappear in Mario Maker as objects that can be placed into a level.

Club Nintendo
In Club Nintendo's rewards program, coins are used as currency to purchase Nintendo-themed merchandise.

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

Yellow Coins
Yellow Coins are the main types of coins found in the Mario series. 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 either 100 or 200 points. Collecting either 50 or 100 in certain games will make the player earn a single 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 in Mario Party DS they are worth 5 Yellow Coins. Their function varies from game to game, but the player usually has to collect eight of them to do something.

Blue Coins


Blue Coins are either part of completion of a game or another way of getting more coins. Blue Coins are found in hidden parts in Super Mario Sunshine, and are required in order to complete the game 100%. In Super Mario 64, they are found by defeating certain enemies or ground-pounding a blue coin switch. They are worth five coin points 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 Rainbow Notes appear. In the Gusty Garden Galaxy, they even make other ? Coins appear.

? Coins return in Super Mario 3D World. They are hidden in groups of five near locked warp blocks. Collecting all five unlocks the warp block.

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, 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., which unlocks new backgrounds for the touchscreen, and 219 in New Super Mario Bros. 2, where they serve for unlocking secret paths. 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 the Dragon Coin.

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, and Super Mario 3D World. In the first two 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 the latter, eight coins appeared, and collecting them all resulted in a Green Star appearing. In these games, Green Coins are activated by moving through a Green Ring and the effect of collecting them is the same as Red Coins.

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

Trivia

 * The Poko from Pikmin 2 bear a striking resemblance to coins.
 * "Koopabits" in the Nintendo Comics System stories are worth one coin.