What Is The Gold Coin & How To Get In Pokémon GO

Something strange is occurring in Pokémon GO following the conclusion of the Dratini Community Day Classic event. More specifically, the game’s interactive map received a slight change to one of its integral features.

While the sudden changes have yet to be officially explained, dataminers have drawn connections between this occurrence and an upcoming Pokémon game. Here's what we know about the mysterious Gold Coin, including how to obtain it and its links to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

2nd June 2023 Update: This guide reflects that Golden PokéStops will return for the Searching for Gold event in Pokémon GO. However, these stops will appear without using Golden Lure Modules, which Roaming Form Gimmighoul won't be spawning here.

What Is The Gold Coin In Pokémon GO?

This mysterious Gold Coin, or the Gimmighoul Coin, was first spotted by Trainers at the end of the Dratini Community Day Classic event. While its official name wasn’t revealed as of writing, many believed it connected to the Paldea region, the central location for the upcoming Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Further confirming the connections is the item’s description in Pokémon GO, which reads as follows: “A coin with a mysterious air. It seems to have originated in the Paldea region.” Besides its in-game description, an ominous Pokémon, now confirmed to be Gimmighoul (Roaming Form), spawns on the map; it cannot be caught, but interacting with it sees a speech bubble with a Gold Coin appearing.

How To Obtain A Gold Coin In Pokémon GO?

This will trigger an interaction between Professor Willow and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Jacq the first time you do. The characters discuss the presence of the Gold Coin in Pokémon GO, and despite Jacq’s hastily exiting, Willow tasks you with finding more of it.

The appearance of the Gold Coin, a strange Pokémon, and Jacq could indicate a possible crossover event between the Pokémon games in the near future. However, it’s important to note that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is scheduled for release on 18th November 2022, which may partly explain the Gold Coin's appearance.

Niantic has a time gap between 17th and 23rd November 2022, with no in-game events planned following the game’s launch and an unnamed event taking place on 27th November 2022. In this regard, we could see more Scarlet and Violet content cropping up in Pokémon GO -- but could we see Professor Willow appearing in Paldea? Only time will tell.

The developer has yet to confirm these mysterious occurrences and whether Trainers could potentially see a crossover event arriving in Pokémon GO. So, follow Professor Willow’s instructions and keep spinning those golden PokéStops to collect more Gold Coins.