The coin chime first appeared in Super Mario Bros., released by Nintendo in 1985, where it played every time Mario picked up a coin and added to the player's score. As Mario became one of the most recognisable game characters in the world, the sound travelled with him through sequels, remakes and handheld games, and later into memes, reaction videos and livestreams. Its staying power comes from that shared recognition: almost anyone who has played a video game knows instantly what it means, so it still works as shorthand for earning something.