Gem

Gems, also known as treasure or jewels, are one of the main collectible items in the Spyro series, starting with their debut appearance in Spyro the Dragon. Starting with Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, they are used as currency, usually to pay Moneybags, who has an obsession with gems. In most games, Spyro is required to collect every gem to add to the game's completion score.

Variants
Similar to Rupees from The Legend of Zelda series, a gem's numerical value and worth is determined by its color. Gems with higher denominations are less common than those with a higher value:


 * Red: 1 gem
 * Green: 2 gems (5 in Spyro: A Hero's Tail)
 * Blue / Purple: 5 gems
 * Yellow: 10 gems (100 in Spyro: A Hero's Tail)
 * Pink / Purple: 25 gems

Spyro the Dragon
In Spyro the Dragon, gems, frequently known in-game as treasure, make up the hoard of the Dragon Treasure, which Gnasty Gnorc stole from the dragons. He used some of the treasure to create an army of Gnorcs. Because of Gnasty Gnorc's sloppy personality, several of the gems were scattered around the Dragon Worlds.

Throughout his adventure, Spyro collects gems around the world hubs and levels. Most gems are found in plain sight. Some are found by defeating an enemy, others are found in Treasure Chests, including Metal Chests, Explosive Chests, Lock Chests, and Strong Chests. Spring Chests each contain a gem, which Spyro can collect by doing a flame or charge attack on it, causing the gem to pop out, and then jumping at the gem before it falls back into the Spring Chest. Spyro must collect the gems to add to the game's completion score. All of the gems add up to a total value of 14,000 gems. When Spyro has collected the first 12,000 gems, he can access a bonus level, Gnasty's Loot, where he can collect the remaining 2,000 gems. This makes Gnasty's Loot the level with the most gems.

Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!
In Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, Spyro must collect gems to pay Moneybags in exchange to access certain levels and sometimes areas within a level. The gems have the same varieties as in the first game, except the blue gems were replaced with purple gems, which represent 5 gems. Spyro can also pay Moneybags to learn certain abilities. All of the gems amount to a total value of 10,000 gems, which are needed to unlock a door in Dragon Shores that permanently grants Spyro the Superflame powerup.

Spyro: Year of the Dragon
In Spyro: Year of the Dragon, Spyro must collect gems to pay Moneybags to enter some levels. Spyro can also bribe Moneybags with gems to free a character that the Sorceress imprisoned and entrusted Moneybags to take guard of. Spyro can unlock the Super Bonus Round if he has 15,000 gems. In the area, Spyro can collect 5,000 more gems to achieve the maximum value of 20,000 gems.

Spyro: Season of Ice
In Spyro: Season of Ice, gems retain their core purpose from Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! and Spyro: Year of the Dragon. In all four Fairy Worlds, Spyro must pay Moneybags with gems to unlock access to a Sparx level. All of the gems add up to a total value of 7,000 gems, which also became the total value in the two following games, Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly and Spyro 2: Season of Flame.

Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs
In Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs, all of the gems have a total value of 9,000 gems.