Not to be confused withYellow Shell.

Coin Shell
Artwork fromMario Kart World
First appearance	Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005)
Latest appearance	Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025)
Variant of	Koopa Shell
Related Gold Koopa

“Ifyou bring me thegold shell, it's an automatic A for you!”

—Coach,Super Mario Galaxy

ACoin Shell (also known as aGold Shell orgold shell) is a rare type ofKoopa Shell. It first appears inMario Kart Arcade GP. In laterSuper Mario games, it can givecoins.

History[edit]

Mario Kart series[edit]

Mario Kart Arcade GP[edit]

Yoshi holding a Gold Shell inMario Kart Arcade GP

InMario Kart Arcade GP, the Gold Shell appears as an item exclusive to the fourth round iteration ofRainbow Downhill, where it functions identically to aGreen Shell.^[1] This item can only be obtained in versions of the game that do not feature Mario Card compatibility.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX[edit]

Gold Shell fromMario Kart Arcade GP DX

InMario Kart Arcade GP DX, Gold Shells act just likeBlack Shells, but instead of being thrown normally like a Green Shell, they home in on the driver in front of the player, like aRed Shell, exploding upon impact.Triple Gold Shells can be unlocked and used as an item as well.

Mario Kart World[edit]

A Coin Shell inMario Kart World

InMario Kart World, Coin Shells appear as an item, marking their firstMario Kart series appearance outside of theMario Kart Arcade GP games. When thrown, the Coin Shell speeds down a set path in the center of the course, leaving behind coins like it does inNew Super Mario Bros. 2, as well as knocking over any racers in its way (similar to aSpiny Shell). After travelling far enough, the shell bursts into eight coins. LikeGreen Shells andRed Shells, the Coin Shell can also be used as a defensive item before it is thrown, blocking a single hit from behind before breaking. Coin Shells also appear inCoin Runners, where they instead travel identically to Green Shells.

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Galaxy[edit]

A gold shell in the Beach Bowl Galaxy

A gold shell in the Bigmouth Galaxy

InSuper Mario Galaxy and itsNintendo Switchport, gold shells function just like Red Shells when held and thrown. The gold shell appears in only two missions:Passing the Swim Test andBigmouth's Gold Bait.

When the player arrives at theBeach Bowl Galaxy, they learn that thepenguins'Coach gave his students a "swimming test" where the students have to find shells. He states that the penguin that finds a gold shell instantly gets anA. When the player dives underwater after speaking with Coach, the player sees that a penguin has already found the sole gold shell. The player mustswim up to the penguin, who refuses to give up the shell. However, the player can take the gold shell from him byspinning, allowing them to take it back to Coach, who is so impressed that he givesMario a "gold medal" (which is actually aPower Star), only to realize Mario is not one of his students. After Mario gets the Power Star, he has to leave the gold shell behind.

In theBigmouth Galaxy, the player finds theGold Treasure Box, which will open only if they bring back a gold shell. After swimming through a dangerous cavern in the darkness, the player must find the gold shell to bring back up and throw it at thetreasure chest, opening it and freeing theToad Brigade captain, who was trapped in the chest. He gives Mario a Power Star as thanks for freeing him.

New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

Gold Shell inNew Super Mario Bros. 2

Gold Shells return inNew Super Mario Bros. 2, where they are now the golden versions of the average Koopa shells. They are much more common here, as Gold Shells appear when Mario passes through aGold Ring. When aGold Koopa is stomped, they retreat into their golden shell, and if kicked it produces a trail ofcoins behind it.

Super Mario 3D World /Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]

A Gold Shell inSuper Mario 3D World

Gold Shells also appear inSuper Mario 3D World andSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury; once again, they are rare. They only appear inKoopa Troopa Cave,Sunshine Seaside, andCoin Express. They function similar to the? Box and Gold Shells inNew Super Mario Bros 2: the player gains coins forshell-dashing with these shells or throwing them; they give 30 coins before breaking. There is also no character color code for the shells.

Profiles[edit]

Mario Kart World[edit]

• In-game manual:
  • English:
    A shiny shell that drops coins and crashes into drivers as it moves along the course.
  • Other languages:
    • French:
      Cette carapace étincelante suit le tracé de la course tout en laissant des pièces dans son sillage et en percutant les pilotes sur sa route.^[2]
      (Translation:This glittering carapace follows the course of the race, leaving coins in its wake and colliding with drivers in its path.)

Gallery[edit]

• 

  Super Mario Galaxy

• 

  Super Mario Galaxy

• 

  New Super Mario Bros. 2

• 

  Super Mario 3D World

Names in other languages[edit]

Gold Shell[edit]

Coin Shell[edit]

Notes[edit]

• According to the Japanese Shogakukan guide for the gameYoshi, theflashing shells are considered "gold" shells that combine all ingredients of theGreen,Red,Yellow, andBlue Shells fromSuper Mario World, resulting in awful taste but incredible benefits.^[15]

References[edit]

• Koopa Shells
• Gold variants
• Mario Kart Arcade GP items
• Mario Kart Arcade GP DX items
• Mario Kart World items
• New Super Mario Bros. 2 items
• Super Mario 3D World items
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury items
• Super Mario Galaxy items

• Articles with unsourced foreign names