It's pretty safe to say everyone knows Coca-Cola. Since 1886, generations of Americans have grown up with the familiar red and white logo surrounding them at every advertising turn. As Coca-Cola continues to enter our lives through promotions of all types, collectors of the memorabilia realize the importance of this brand even more than those who simply love the drink. Collectors ferret out Coca Cola collectibles to decorate their homes wherever they can find them, always on the prowl for something interesting and fun.

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.

Coca-Cola collectibles can be old or new. The newer items are sometimes made to look antique, so a novice collector has to be careful. Most vendors do not intentionally set out to deceive, but an uninformed collector might make an incorrect assumption as to the age of an item. It always pays to ask to make sure you are not paying a high price for something that is new. Do a little research to avoid making a costly mistake.

Pepsi collectible have also been gaining popularity. This market segment is newer and not as well known, so it is best to do a little research. Make sure the dealer you are using is established and has a good history. This will prevent you from making a poor investment.

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.