Power Rangersisn’t technically an adaptation, but it might as well be. Saban and his team borrowed action footage from the ever-iconicSuper Sentaiseries and stitched it into an American high school sitcom. The bizarre result still occupies several children’s TV blocks and the hearts and minds of most nerds between the ages of 10 and 40. One of the many adapted elements is the Power Coins, the source of the Rangers' gear, strength, and skills.
The sad truth of children’s programming is that 90% is developedwith toy sales in mindfirst and art a distant secondary concern. ThePower Rangersroutinely changed outfits, weapons, and vehicles to ensure a steady supply of stuff to sell. That requires every notable icon of the franchise to be something relatively toyetic. That’s part of the reasonSentaiheroes andPower Rangersuse belt buckles and coins to activate their mighty gifts.
What do Power Coins do?
The Power Coins hold the source of thePower Rangers’strength. Each golden coin contains an impossible amount of energy through its connection to the Morphin Grid. The Power Coins fit into Power Morphers, the ornate belt buckles that fans may remember the Rangers pointing dramatically toward the screen. Each coin is decorated with an animal, promising the power of a specific beast when activated. Only one of each coin can exist at a time.When a Ranger retires, they hand their Morpher and Power Coin down to the next generation. Power Coins activate the suit, strength, and skills that make Rangers capable of their usual feats. They have a few other unique features that make them essential.
Power Coins can be extended or altered into crystals for several purposes. Power Crystals are the mechanisms that drive the Zords, the giant robots that allowRangers to fight giant monsters. With a catchphrase, the Power Coins become shimmering stones that stab into the Zord’s console. Power Crystals also allow Rangers to teleport, summoning one team member to the others or vice versa. These abilities ensure Power Coins will remain a critical piece of iconography for the Power Rangers. When Rita Repulsa discovered a sixth hidden Power Coin, she used her massive advantage to empower Tommy Oliver, thefirst Evil Rangerand most significant threat the heroes had faced. When Tommy overcame his brainwashing, he got a new coin to go with his new outfit.
Who made Power Coins?
The Power Morphers and Power Coins comefromSuper Sentai. The versions used inMighty Morphin Power Rangersare toy “Dino Bucklers” released to promote the original Japanese series. The design, esthetics, gestures, and purpose of the Power Coins were developed almost entirely outside thePower Rangerswriting room. In canon, a mysterious ninja sorcerer named Ninjor created the Power Coins. Ninjor appears, as if from nowhere, as a new figure in the third season ofMighty Morphin Power Rangers. He resembles a robot or perhaps a life-size action figure. The Rangers track down Ninjor after Rita Repulsa’s brother destroys the Zords and damages the Power Coins. The heroes need a new set, so Ninjor tested their skills. Once they proved themselves, Ninjor summoned a new set into existence, complete with new Zords. TheMorphin Grid can createPower Coins autonomously with a sufficient power source, but Ninjor seems to summon them with little effort.
Notable Power Coins inPower Rangers
Not every set ofPower Rangersuses Power Coins. There are several unique activators enabling Rangers to use their power. Here are some well-known examples:
The Power Coins are an instrumental part ofPower Rangersiconography. Though the concept only returns in nostalgic callbacks today, it sets the tone for countless other examples. Every team has one device or another to activate their powers and signal the change between American footage andSentaimaterial. TheMighty Morphin Power Rangerscouldn’t shout their catchphrase or don their suits without the Power Coins in their belt.
