Majors

Mint Condition: McDonald’s Made a $90K Golden Shamrock Shake

MajorsFeb 26, 2020

Mint Condition: McDonald’s Made a $90K Golden Shamrock Shake

The fast-food giant is celebrating the dessert’s 50th anniversary with the auction of a one-of-a-kind 18-karat gold, diamond and emerald cup.

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To celebrate the Shamrock Shake’s golden anniversary, McDonald’s is auctioning off this 18-karat gold, diamond and emerald cup.

Chicago—It’s the Shamrock Shake’s 50th anniversary, and McDonald’s isn’t letting it go by without a proper celebration.

In honor of the seasonal mint-flavored dessert, which has just returned nationwide, McDonald’s has introduced a special-one-of-a-kind creation for the occasion—a solid gold cup in which one can enjoy the green shake.  

The Golden Shamrock Shake is hand-crafted in 18-karat gold and set with 50 yellow diamonds in the shape of the golden arches as well as 50 colorless diamonds and emeralds set in the top rim and bottom rim, respectively. 

Solomon Brothers Jewelers in Georgia designed and created the cup, spending more than 140 hours producing the piece.

It’s available for purchase via auction, with proceeds benefitting the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which Shamrock Shake proceeds helped open in 1974.

The auction is live now; anyone interested can place a bid on the Ronald McDonald House Charities eBay for Charity page.

The opening bid started at $1, but the current bid was up to $30,100 as of Wednesday morning.

The cup comes with an appraisal from Solomon Brothers Jewelers, which has valued it at $90,000.

The auction ends Friday, March 6 at 5 a.m. EST.

McDonald’s is also offering the opportunity for customers to win a Golden Shamrock Shake—anyone who buys a Shamrock Shake or an Oreo Shamrock McFlurry through the company’s app will automatically be entered to win the one-of-a-kind piece.

“Tradition calls for a 50th anniversary to be celebrated with gold, so we wanted to create an item that not only represented this milestone, but our delicious Shamrock Shake,” said McDonald’s Vice President of U.S. Communications Dave Tovar.

Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to reflect that Solomon Brothers Jewelers also designed and created the cup as well as provided the appraisal.

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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