In late 1999, Burger King launched one of its most memorable promotional campaigns by offering exclusive 23-karat gold-plated Pokémon cards, each housed in a special Poké Ball-shaped case. The promotion featured six different cards, each featuring a popular Pokémon: Pikachu, Charizard, Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, Poliwhirl, and Togepi. These cards weren’t standard playing cards but rather limited edition collectible items made of gold-plated metal, each sold with a certificate of authenticity and presented in a protective display case.
The cards were sold for $1.99 with any purchase at Burger King restaurants, making them surprisingly affordable for gold-plated collectibles. This accessibility, combined with the peak of Pokémon’s popularity during the late 1990s, created massive demand. Parents lined up at Burger King locations across the country, and many restaurants sold out of their allocated stock within days. The promotion was so successful that it led to some controversy when certain locations couldn’t meet demand, and there were reports of employees hoarding the cards for resale.
Today, these gold-plated cards remain sought-after collectibles among Pokémon enthusiasts and memorabilia collectors. Complete sets in mint condition, especially those still sealed in their original packaging with certificates of authenticity, can sell for hundreds of dollars. While they were never intended for use in the actual Pokémon Trading Card Game, these unique items represent a fascinating intersection of fast-food marketing, pop culture, and collectible memorabilia from Pokémon’s initial wave of global popularity. The promotion is often remembered as one of Burger King’s most successful marketing campaigns and a defining moment in Pokémon merchandise history.
There were 6 cards to collect featuring.
- Pikachu
- Poliwhirl
- Charizard
- Mewtwo
- Jigglypuff
- Togepi
Each Pokémon has two cards, with a different design of that Pokémon on each. Below are all the cards available. The second design is hidden beneath the first.
