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One of the best known and most valuable brands in the world is Coca-Cola. This brand value translates into the world of collectibles as well. Items branded with the Coke logo can actually be a good investment. The rarer items, in demand by collectors, can bring a high price when sold on the open market. For true Coke collectors, even the lesser valued items find a use as accents around to be enjoyed around their homes.

One of the primary appeals of collecting Coca Cola memorabilia is that people often associate Coke ad therefore Coke collectibles with happy times in their lives. Coke's marketers often used Santa Claus or attractive women in their advertising to promote this association. The ads were so common that some people believe Coke played a large role in developing the current popular image of what Santa Claus should look like.

Aside from these graphics, valuable Coca-Cola collectibles include antique Coke items from the 1800s can be incredibly expensive. Coca-Cola items with a faux antique look are starting to appear on the marketplace that have really been produced since the 1970s. The gullible collector can fall for collecting these items as genuine antiques. A lot of these duplicates are pretty close to the real thing, such as calendars and trays, and can even fool the expert if they aren't looking closely.

The fakes don't stop with the most expensive items, however. From bottles to coolers, reproductions abound in this area. Some items were made to look old, but never existed as originals. Collectors refer to these items as "fantasies." Fantasies items range from belt buckles to bottle shaped knives and often make their way into antique shops, flea markets and shows. Even though most dealers don't intentionally sell them to dupe their customers, these fakes do eventually get passed on to uneducated collectors as authentic Coca Cola collectibles.

There are also collectors of Pepsi products. To protect yourself and others, it's wise to purchase expensive pieces from a trustworthy dealer and to have items you own authenticated by an expert before trying to sell them for big bucks.

Even with all this questionable activity going on, avoiding the pitfalls of reproductions and fantasy items while enjoying Coke collecting remains a possibility. Purchasing affordable items you like, whether they're new or old, offers lovers of Coca Cola memorabilia a way to join in on the fun.