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The post Coca-Cola Collectibles Worth Thousands by Sarah Edwards appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.
Few companies are as intertwined with Americana as Coca-Cola. From iconic advertising to global symbolism of American consumerism and capitalism, Coke’s reach across lives and continents over 139 years has made Coca-Cola collectibles worth thousands of dollars.
Perhaps you’ve come across an old Coca-Cola bottle that once held the medicinal tonic concocted in Atlanta in 1886. Maybe you’ve uncovered a set of trays or holiday ornaments while sorting through boxes in your parents’ or grandparents’ basement.
To help you determine whether you might be able to make any money from what you’ve unearthed, here’s a list of 10 Coca-Cola collectibles that could be worth thousands.
Quick Look: Coke Collectibles Worth Money
- 1915 Coca-Cola prototype bottle
- Pete Hawley advertisement signs
- Early Coca-Cola serving trays
- 1899 Hutchinson bottles
- 1940s Coca-Cola vending machines
- 1930s Coca-Cola neon clocks
- 1920s Coca-Cola calendars
- Coca-Cola wooden crates
- Coca-Cola syrup dispensers
- 1940s Coca-Cola cooler chests
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10 Coca-Cola Collectibles Worth a Small Fortune
Coke both shapes and reflects American culture, attaching sentimental value to everything carrying the brand. Whether you’re a collector or an investor, here are 10 collectibles worth a small mint.
1. 1915 Coca-Cola Prototype Bottle
In 1915, the Root Glass Company produced bottles for Coca-Cola, and Earl R. Dean designed an early version with outward curves that became a forerunner to today’s green Coke bottles. The prototype is among the rare Coca-Cola collectibles to come to market. At Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills in 2011, one of just two of the bottles known to exist sold for $240,000.
2. Pete Hawley Advertisement Signs
Coca-Cola hired artist Pete Hawley in the 1950s to produce a series of pin-up style advertisements, often showing a stylish woman enjoying a Coke. These ads, done in gouache on cardboard, have become prized collectibles. In 2012, a vintage Coca-Cola sign known as “Refreshment on the Beach” sold for $27,500.
3. Early Coca-Cola Serving Trays
Starting in 1897, Coca-Cola serving trays were given to the operators of soda fountains to serve drinks to customers. As part of Coke’s early marketing, they cost $0.12 to $0.14 apiece, making a small dent in the company’s advertising budget in the 1920s.
In 1925, the trays depicting bottles of Coca-Cola were sold to individual bottlers who distributed them in various ways to customers. They were then discontinued after 1926. A tray in excellent condition can fetch up to five figures at auction, but most sell for $50 to $100.
4. 1899 Hutchinson Bottles
Before 1900, Coca-Cola came in bottles with straight sides, known as Hutchinson bottles. They featured a scripted logo and were sealed with a metal stopper that popped when opened, which gave rise to the term “soda pop,” adding to Coke’s place in beverage history. The bottles have sold for $2,500 to $4,000 at auction and are some of the most coveted Coca-Cola collectibles.
5. 1940s Coca-Cola Vending Machines
Among valuable Coke memorabilia, 1940s vending machines are highly sought after by collectors. Working or not, or in various states of decay, they can be worth a significant amount of money. These early vending machines were a transition from simple ice-cooled coolers to coin-operated dispensers of Coke kept cool in a chilled water bath. They can run between $1,000 and $10,000.
6. 1930s Coca-Cola Neon Clocks
If you had walked into a fountain soda shop in the 1930s, you might have seen a neon Coca-Cola clock hanging on the wall. Versions from this era were the first to feature electricity, while previous clocks were key-wound. The 1930s models were also some of the last to be made from wood and metals, which gave way to lighter plastic. Some neon Coke clocks have sold for as much as $9,000.
7. 1920s Coca-Cola Calendars
The 1920s Coca-Cola calendars put the beverage company’s early advertising prowess on display, promoting the refreshing beverage and its health benefits. The full-color lithographs often featured women drinking a Coke. The company sometimes issued two calendars per year, one with a bottle for bottle sales and another with a glass for fountain sales. A full calendar can sell for $4,000. Individual months are auctioned at $500.
8. Coca-Cola Wooden Crates
Coca-Cola and its bottlers used wooden crates to transport the glass bottles for several decades. Featuring the iconic logo and sometimes the names of cities where the beverage was bottled and distributed, authentic crates are made from pine or oak, have dovetail joints and show faded stencil lettering.
You may run across two types of crate: one common and one with the stamp of a city. The common crates often sell for less than $100. However, you might be able to get $500 to $1,000 for a rare city-stamped version.
9. Coca-Cola Syrup Dispensers
In 1896, Coca-Cola began providing syrup urns to soda fountain shops that sold 100 gallons of Coke during the year. The volume was later lowered, but the urns remained. Porcelain, Victorian-style urns with gold leaf and the red Coca-Cola logo sat about 21 inches tall on the front or back bar in the soda shop. Rare, early original dispensers have sold for $30,000 to $50,000 at auction. However, most urns are valued at about $2,000.
10. 1940s Coca-Cola Cooler Chests
Featuring the words “Drink Coca-Cola” in white lettering on the side, the 1940s cooler chest in the beverage maker’s recognizable red is a collector’s favorite. Made from galvanized steel, originals should carry a manufacturer plate from Progress Refrigerator Company, which was a partner of Coca-Cola. You may find restored coolers selling for $150 to $1,500 or those in mint condition going for a lot more.
Buy or Sell Your Coca-Cola Collectibles
Coke is one of the world’s most iconic brands after nearly 140 years in business. Many items, from promotional giveaways to rare Coca-Cola bottles, have become collectibles. The brand even has a worldwide group, the Coca-Cola Collectors Club, for individuals interested in Coke items. This list can help you identify Coca-Cola collectibles you run across and want to buy or sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most expensive Coca-Cola collectible?
The most expensive Coca-Cola collectible depends on the source and what you consider a collectible. Andy Warhol’s painting Coca-Cola (3) sold at a Christie’s auction in 2013 for $57.3 million, a 12-oz Christmas Edition Empty Coca-Cola Can sold for $347,000 and an Earl R. Dean Prototype Bottle sold for $240,000.
What is the rarest Coke bottle in the world?
In 1915, Earl R. Dean, working for the Root Glass Company, designed the bulbous forerunner to the curvy Coca-Cola bottles we see today. Only two of the distinct green-glass bottles are known to exist, and one sold at auction in 2011 for $240,000.
How can I identify a rare Coke glass?
To identify a rare Coke glass, inspect what is etched on the sides or look for a syrup line, which was used in the early days to mark how much of the Coke formula to pour in before adding carbonated water. A glass without the line or with a bell shape is less valuable.
The post Coca-Cola Collectibles Worth Thousands by Sarah Edwards appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.
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