Coin Shell
- Not to be confused with Yellow Shell.
| Coin Shell | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork from New Super Mario Bros. 2 | |||
| First appearance | Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005) | ||
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) | ||
| Variant of | Koopa Shell | ||
| |||
- “If you bring me the gold shell, it's an automatic A for you!”
- —Coach, Super Mario Galaxy
A Coin Shell (also known as a Gold Shell or gold shell) is a rare type of Koopa Shell. It first appears in Mario Kart Arcade GP. In later Super Mario games, it can give coins.
History[edit]
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart Arcade GP[edit]
In Mario Kart Arcade GP, the Gold Shell appears as an item exclusive to the fourth round iteration of Rainbow Downhill, where it functions identically to a Green 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]
In Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, Gold Shells act just like Black Shells, but instead of being thrown normally like a Green Shell, they home in on the driver in front of the player, like a Red Shell, exploding upon impact. Triple Gold Shells can be unlocked and used as an item as well.
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, Coin Shells appear as an item. They act as they do in New Super Mario Bros. 2, though they speed down the center of the course, knocking over any racers in their way (like Spiny Shells), and burst into eight coins at the end of their limit. They can also appear in Coin Runners, where they instead travel identically to Green Shells. This also marks their first appearance in a Mario Kart video game that is not a Mario Kart Arcade GP title, as well as their first appearance in a Mario Kart console title.
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
In Super Mario Galaxy, gold shells function just like Red Shells when held and thrown. The gold shell appears in only two missions: Passing the Swim Test and Bigmouth's Gold Bait.
When the player arrives at the Beach Bowl Galaxy, they learn that the penguins' 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 an A. When the player dives underwater after speaking with Coach, the player sees that a penguin has already found the sole gold shell. The player must swim up to the penguin, who refuses to give up the shell. However, the player can take the gold shell from him by spinning, allowing them to take it back to Coach, who is so impressed that he gives Mario a "gold medal" (which is actually a Power 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 the Bigmouth Galaxy, the player finds the Gold 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 the treasure chest, opening it and freeing the Toad 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 Shells return in New 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 a Gold Ring. When a Gold Koopa is stomped, they retreat into their golden shell, and if kicked it produces a trail of coins behind it.
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]
Gold Shells also appear in Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury; once again, they are rare. They only appear in Koopa Troopa Cave, Sunshine Seaside, and Coin Express. They function similar to the ? Box and Gold Shells in New Super Mario Bros 2: the player gains coins for shell-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.)
- French:
- English:
Gallery[edit]
Super Mario Galaxy
Names in other languages[edit]
Gold Shell[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | コウラ（金）[3] Kōra (Kin) |
Shell (Gold) | Super Mario Galaxy |
| ゴールドコウラ[4] Gōrudo Koura |
Gold Shell | Super Mario 3D World | |
| ゴールドこうら[5] Gōrudo Koura |
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX | ||
| Chinese (traditional) | 黃金龜殼[?] Huángjīn Guīké |
Gold Shell | |
| German | Goldpanzer[?] | Gold Shell | |
| Italian | Guscio d'Oro[6] | Gold Shell | Super Mario Galaxy |
| Spanish | Caparazón dorado[?] | Golden shell |
Coin Shell[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ゴールデンこうら[7] Gōruden Kōra |
Golden Shell | |
| Dutch | Muntenschild[8] | Coin shell | |
| French | Caparace à pièces[2] | Coin shell | |
| German | Münz-Panzer[9] | Coin Shell | |
| Italian | Guscio moneta[10] | Coin shell | |
| Korean | 골드 등껍질[11] Goldeu Deungkkeopjil |
Golden Shell | |
| Portuguese | Carapaça de moedas[12] | Coin shell | |
| Spanish | Caparazón de monedas[13] | Coins shell |
Notes[edit]
- According to the Japanese Shogakukan guide for the game Yoshi, the flashing shells are considered "gold" shells that combine all ingredients of the Green, Red, Yellow, and Blue Shells from Super Mario World, resulting in awful taste but incredible benefits.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ Mario Kart Arcade GP All Cups in 1:13:13
- ^ a b Mario Kart World in-game manual from French European localization. (Archived 12 Jun. 2025 via Imgur.)
- ^ Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2015). "Super Mario Galaxy."『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 136.
- ^ ---- (2015). "New Super Mario Bros. U"『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 232.
- ^ Mario Kart Arcade GP DX item list. Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (Japanese). Retrieved April 19, 2025. (Archived November 27, 2021, 17:18:30 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ «Devi portarmi il Guscio d'Oro!» – Coach. Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo of Europe (Italian).
- ^ Nintendo 公式チャンネル (April 17, 2025). マリオカート ワールド Direct. YouTube. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo Nederland (April 17, 2025). Mario Kart World Direct – 17 april 2025. YouTube. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo DE (April 17, 2025). Mario Kart World Direct – 17.04.2025. YouTube. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ NintendoItalia (April 17, 2025). Mario Kart World Direct – 17/04/2025. YouTube. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ 한국닌텐도 공식 채널 (April 17, 2025). 마리오 카트 월드 Direct. YouTube. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo Portugal (April 17, 2025). Mario Kart World Direct – 17/04/2025. YouTube. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo España (April 17, 2025). Mario Kart World Direct - 17-04-2025 (35:05). YouTube. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ 「任天堂公式ガイドブック ヨッシーのたまご」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Yoshi's Egg). Page 61.
