McDonald's Offering MacCoins To Honor Big Mac

The iconic McDonald’s Big Mac burger that has sat atop the multi-billion dollar chain’s drive-thru menu for decades is turning 50 years old. To honor the unofficial king of calories, carbohydrates and cholesterol, McDonald’s wants you to get a limited edition MacCoin.

Beginning at lunchtime Thursday, customers who buy a Big Mac at one of the 14,000 participating locations in the U.S.— including across Michigan — can receive a MacCoin, while supplies last. Starting Friday, you can use that coin to get a free Big Mac. The promotion lasts through the rest of the year.

McDonald’s expects more than 6 million MacCoins will be distributed across the globe. The commemorative coins feature five unique designs, the company said in a release. Each represents a decade of the signature sandwich, incorporating elements from that period of history with nods to art, music and pop culture. The front of the MacCoin celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Big Mac.

• The ‘70s coin highlights the decade’s flower power
• The ‘80s coin alludes to pop art
• The ‘90s is defined with bold, abstract shapes
• The early 2000s specifically focuses on the technology that was at the forefront of the turn of the century
• The 2010s MacCoin draws attention to the evolution of communication

“In its 50 years, the legendary taste of the Big Mac has helped it achieve universal recognition and a lasting legacy,” McDonald’s said in a release. “No matter where they live in the world, Big Mac fans recognize the two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun as the iconic burger with a flavor combination that’s just as craveable and delicious as the day it was introduced.”

Steve Easterbrook, McDonald’s president and CEO, said in a release the sandwich has traversed the globe “from Shanghai to Chicago” and delivered “delicious, feel good moments.”

“So we wanted a global celebration as unique as the burger itself,” he said. “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.”Nick Delligatti, fourth-generation McDonald’s owner-operator and great-grandson of Jim Delligatti, inventor of the Big Mac, said he believes Jim would be proud.

“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,” Nick Delligatti said. “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.”

Photo credit: McDonald’s

Subscribe to Patch for more regional news and real-time alerts.