McDonald's is launching its own currency because of course

The Big Mac is turning 50 soon, and McDonald's is going to celebrate the way everything is celebrated in 2018: by releasing their own currency -- though it comes with a twist.

While crypto is a big thing these days, McDonald's is throwing a curveball into the self-release currency game by putting out an actual, physical coin called the "MacCoin." At least we know its exact value, though: one Big Mac, or about $3.99.

The MacCoin will be redeemable for a free Big Mac at "participating locations" across 50 countries. As for how to actually procure a MacCoin, though, the company is a wee bit more vague in a press release: "a variety of exciting giveaways with each participating country celebrating the arrival of the MacCoin in its own unique way."

Well, OK then. Do we wish them into existence? Can we rig the MacCoin system just like the McDonald's Monopoly game? And if we do get them, are we in danger of being Hamburgled? Can they be used to pay for tuition at Hamburger University?

The MacCoin will be redeemable at 14,000 U.S. locations so chances are there'll be one close to you that'll take what the fast food empire is hailing as the "first fully food-back global currency."

There will be a whole lot of them -- more than 6.2 million -- and the MacCoins will feature artwork that throws back across the decades of the Big Mac's history at McDonald's. And that had better include the creepy Mac Tonight guy from the late '80s.

The MacCoins will begin rolling out on Thursday which would have been the 100th birthday of Jim Delligatti, a former McDonald's owner-operator who created the Big Mac.

Blessed be the burger makers.