In Super Mario 3D World, players can collect Coins in various ways as they navigate through levels. Coins are dispersed throughout the game, found in environments, obtained by breaking blocks, defeating enemies, or through special mechanisms like the Gold Coin Box. This unique box becomes particularly useful as it generates coins continuously as the player moves, until either 100 coins are collected or the character sustains damage.

The primary purpose of coins in Super Mario 3D World is to gain extra lives. Players are rewarded with a 1-Up (an extra life) for every 100 coins they collect, at which point the coin counter resets to zero. It’s important to note that, unlike in some earlier entries of the Mario franchise, collecting coins does not contribute to restoring Mario’s health in this game, making their collection more strategic and focused on life accumulation.

Additionally, there are special types of coins, such as Red, Blue, and Green coins, which serve distinct purposes. Collecting these special coins during timed challenges can lead to unlocking power-ups or Green Stars, enhancing gameplay and offering further rewards beyond the standard yellow coins which primarily grant extra lives.

In summary, players gather coins throughout their adventure in Super Mario 3D World by running or jumping through them, with the main benefit being the accumulation of extra lives, particularly through the collection of yellow coins. Special coin types add another layer of challenge and reward, incentivizing exploration and skillful play.