Coin News
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.
We’re celebrating 50 years of Big Mac by creating a global currency—MacCoin—each one worth a free Big Mac around the ?, with 5 collectible designs for 5 legendary decades. Starting August 2, collect your own MacCoins when you buy a Big Mac while supplies last. #BigMac50 pic.twitter.com/xn8Z9GNLSp
— McDonald’s (@McDonalds) July 29, 2018
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
The United Kingdom coin struck in New York
Today I would like to tell you a fascinating story about a very limited edition United Kingdom coin struck in New York almost 60 years ago.
It is extremely rare that United Kingdom coins are struck anywhere other than in the UK, however the New York Exhibition in 1960 presented a rare opportunity for The Royal Mint to take their minting expertise overseas.
The New York Exhibition
Still struggling to recover from post-war austerity, the height of Great Britain as the dominant trading nation of the world seemed a distant memory in 1960.
Britain was desperate to revive its ability to trade internationally and so the New York Exhibition was organised to demonstrate the best of British manufacturing to the American market with the hope of increasing British exports to the United States.
The 1960 New York Exhibition Crown
The New York Exhibition Crown
A brand new coin was struck for the occasion and although it was somewhat overlooked in Britain at the time, it stands out today as one of the most interesting Royal Mint coins ever struck.
That is because although just over a million New York Exhibition crowns were minted in the UK, a very small number were struck at the exhibition in New York so that visitors could see the best of British manufacturing before their own eyes.
This limited edition coin was minted especially for the visitors to the exhibition and only 70,000 coins were struck – that is less than 7% of the mintage of the ordinary circulation version!
Could I own a limited edition New York crown?
Although they were struck with a specially polished die, there were no special mintmarks on the coins struck in New York making them extremely difficult to distinguish from the ordinary uncirculated version.
However, as the ordinary uncirculated coin was somewhat overlooked at the time in Britain it too has a surprisingly low mintage – less than a fifth of the 1953 Coronation Crown and less than 6% of the 1965 Churchill Crown.
Some of the unsold crowns minted at the exhibition were brought back to the UK by The Royal Mint, meaning that there are likely to be a small number of rare crown coins which were struck in New York buried in collections across the country.
This coin played a key role in boosting Britain’s trade relationship with the United States, and the fact that a very limited number were actually minted at the exhibition in New York makes it undoubtedly one of the most interesting UK coins of the 20th century.
Own the New York Exhibition Crown struck in uncirculated condition!
We are offering collectors the chance to own the New York Exhibition Crown struck in uncirculated condition (who knows, it might even be one of the rare coins that came back from New York!).
To secure your New York Exhibition Crown for just £19.99 (+p&p), click here >>
The life and reign of Queen Victoria told through her coins…
One of the most interesting things about historic coins is the insight they give into the time they were struck and of the monarch who issued them.
A particular reign that has always fascinated collectors is that of Queen Victoria. During Victoria’s long reign only three major obverse portraits adorned her coins and they come together to chart the life and reign of one of Britain’s most popular monarchs.
The Young Head
The first effigy to feature on Queen Victoria’s coinage is known as the ‘Young Head’ portrait. This early portrait shows Victoria at the tender age of just 18, when she acceded to the throne.
The public in the early 19th century would not have been aware that the youthful Victoria depicted on their coins would soon become the leader of the largest Empire the world had ever seen and would reign longer than any British monarch before her.
The ‘Young Head’ portrait was extremely popular with the general public and remained on Victoria’s coins with only minor alterations for the majority of her reign.
Young Head – This design graced most of Queen Victoria’s coinage right up to 1887.
The Jubilee Head
After 60 years however, it was decided that a new portrait was necessary to reflect Victoria as the elder stateswoman she had become. Victoria’s Golden Jubilee marked the occasion for a design change and Joseph Edgar Boehm was chosen to design a portrait for the 78 year old Queen.
However, Boehm’s portrait failed to gain the public’s admiration in the way its predecessor had. The portrait was met with ridicule by the general public who found the small crown balanced precariously on her head as unrealistic and almost comical.
Jubilee Head – Designed in 1887 to mark her Golden Jubilee.
The Veiled Head
The ‘Jubilee’ portrait was quickly replaced in 1893 after only six years, with what was to be the final obverse used on Victoria’s coinage. This new effigy was designed by Thomas Brock and shows a mature bust of the Queen with a veil representing her long period of mourning after the death of her husband Prince Albert.
Victoria was deeply attached to her husband and she sank into depression after his death. For the rest of her reign she wore black and the final portrait of the highly respected Queen represents this secluded period of mourning that came towards the end of her life.
Veiled Head – The Jubilee Head design was short-lived, being replaced by Thomas Brock’s ‘Old Head’ or ‘Veiled Head’ design in 1893.
Together, these coin portraits tell the story of Queen Victoria, with each marking an important period from her long reign. All of these coins are now over 100 years old and for me they epitomise Victorian coin collecting.
Limited stock available on Queen Victoria Half Crown Set…
Today you have the opportunity to own each of these key portraits in the Queen Victoria Half Crown Set. However, these historic coins are very difficult to source and we only have a limited number available.