The word “doubloon” may make you think of high school history class and 16th century Spain, or pirate treasure and modern-day movies like Pirates of the Caribbean.
The doubloon was a gold coin minted in Spain and some of its colonies. They were worth about four dollars, a large sum at the time. (In today’s currency, their equivalent worth would be about $30.) Gold doubloons often bring pirates and sunken treasure to mind, since piracy was common during the time and Spanish galleons were the common target.
Doubloons have made a comeback in recent years, but only as a virtual currency in video games. They’re sometimes spelled Dabloons and used in games like Pirates of the Burning Sea, Sea of Thieves, and World of Warships.
Dabloons arrived on TikTok a few years ago, too.
What Is the Dabloon Trend on TikTok?
You’ll occasionally see the word spelled “doubloon” on the social media platform, but “dabloon” is used much more commonly.
It’s not known who originated the trend, but in late 2022 the phrase “…but it will cost you four dabloons” began appearing in TikTok videos. It was based on a 2021 Instagram meme showing something dubbed a “dabloon cat” with a caption that read “4 Dabloons.”
In many cases, the TikTok posts showed a slideshow of cats backed by music from the video game “My Singing Monsters.” At the end of the video, there was a portrayal of a product supposedly for sale, with a tagline warning that “It will cost you four dabloons.”
No one can explain why some TikTok content trends, but this did. Enthusiastic TikTok users developed a full fictional dabloon economy, along with a dabloon government and laws (which naturally were never enforced), dabloon jobs, banks, and stores — and as you might be expect, dabloon robbers. Some users posted videos of the cat supposedly giving viewers free dabloons.
Of course, this was all in fun. The original dabloon trend only lasted about a month, but it still pops up on TikTok from time to time.
If you come across the dabloon cat giving away treasure, though, a word of advice from veteran TikTokers: a fictional guard dog or weapon is your best defense against marauders trying to steal your dabloons.
About the Author
Peter Hasselworth is a contributor at iDigic, sharing valuable insights about Instagram growth and social media marketing strategies.