McDonalds are striking their own currency…

As the largest restaurant franchise in the world, it was only a matter of time until McDonald’s pulled something extravagant out the bag.

It’s safe to say they didn’t disappoint with the release of their own global currency – the MacCoin! 

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Big Mac burger, McDonalds have created their OWN currency. But the question on our lips is “what are the coins worth?”

Well… the coins are only legal tender in McDonalds restaurants and can only be redeemed for a Big Mac burger.

From 2nd August 2018, customers in the US will have the opportunity to collect FIVE different MacCoin designs, which can then be redeemed at over 14,000 restaurants across the US for a FREE Big Mac burger.

6.2 million coins will be released and are sure to be extremely sought-after by collectors and McDonalds enthusiasts from all over the world. In 2016, a McDonald’s division in the UK auctioned off a 740-milliliter bottle of sauce used in the burger for roughly $95,000 on eBay.

Sadly however, there are no plans for MacCoins to be available in the UK.

The inspiration for the coins originated from the Big Mac and the ‘Big Mac Index’, this is the annual report which uses Big Mac prices in countries around the world to see how currencies are valued.

With 1.3 billion (yes, billion!) Big Macs sold last year alone, the sale of Big Macs is expected to sky rocket even more, the perfect way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Big Mac.

Image credit: McDonalds

The launch date also celebrates of the 100th birthday of Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee in western Pennsylvania who invented the Big Mac.

The 5 different coin designs will each represent a different decade since the release of the burger in its full glory.

•The ‘70s: Showcasing the decade’s ‘flower power’ in all its glory

•The ‘80s: Alluding to pop art culture

•The ‘90s: Defined by bold, abstract shapes

•The early ‘00s: Specifically focusing on the development of technology at the forefront of the turn of the century

•The ‘10s: Focusing on the evolution of communication and globalisation in the modern world.

Let us know what you think about McDonalds MacCoins by leaving us a comment below.


If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:

– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers

Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app

3 Comments

  1. Heidi on August 1, 2018 at 7:02 pm

    How to get hold of one in the uk (MacCoin)?

    [email protected]



    • Rachel Hooper on August 2, 2018 at 8:20 am

      Hi Heidi, these coins will be given out in US stores to customers who buy a Big Mac and can then be used world wide, so I wonder if we might see any finding their way into UK stores later in the year…



      • Danny wilson on August 21, 2018 at 1:24 pm

        I’m from the uk but currently in Austria eating Big Macs like crazy as stores are running out fast I plan to keep hold of them and see what the market is for them in the uk.