McDonald’s has unveiled a new type of currency to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Big Mac.
The MacCoin, which was unveiled on Sunday by the fast food giant, will be available to customers in 14,000 participating stores in the US and can be cashed in for one free Big Mac.
All you have to do to get your hands on one is buy a Big Mac – and McDonald’s staff will give you a MacCoin for free.
Diners can redeem the new currency for a free Big Mac starting Friday and running throughout the rest of 2018.
The Thursday launch date was selected for the brass-colored coins because it would’ve been the 100th birthday of Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee in western Pennsylvania who invented the Big Mac.
Nick, Dan, Mike and Tony Delligatti enjoy Big Macs, the invention of grandfather and father Jim Delligatti at the launch of the MacCoin
His great-grandson Nick Delligatti said: ‘When my great-grandfather Jim Delligatti invented the Big Mac at his grill in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, he just wanted to make his local customers happy.’
‘August 2 would have been his 100th birthday, and I believe he would be very proud knowing his humble sandwich has made such a lasting impression that people all around the world can enjoy it wherever they find a McDonald’s.’
McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook told USA Today the coin idea sprung from the role that the Big Mac has played in measuring purchasing power.
In 1986, The Economist started using the Big Mac Index as a way of measuring the purchasing power of international currency. ‘They use it to this day,’ Easterbrook said. ‘Why not have some fun with it? Create our own currency.’
‘Since it was introduced at a family-owned McDonald’s restaurant 50 years ago, the Big Mac has traversed the globe and is enjoyed in cities from Shanghai to Chicago, providing delicious, feel good moments to people all over the world,’ said Easterbrook.
‘So we wanted a global celebration as unique as the burger itself. The MacCoin transcends currencies to commemorate our global iconic burger while giving customers all over the world a chance to enjoy a Big Mac on us.’
McDonald’s sold 1.3 billion Big Macs last year, according to the chain.
Diners can redeem the new currency for a free Big Mac starting Friday and running throughout the rest of 2018