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 main reasons people enjoy collecting Coke collectibles is that they're often associated with fun and happy occasions. Clever marketers working for Coca Cola used beautiful women and Santa Claus extensively in their ads over the years. In fact, some enthusiasts credit the company for developing the image of Santa children know and love today.

Beyond these images, Coke related antiques and collectibles dating back to the late 1800s have priced themselves out of the market for the average collector. Since the 1970s, many Coca Cola collectibles have been fabricated to mimic older items and passed off to those who didn't know better. Numerous trays and several of the calendars have definitely been reproduced and some of them are reported to be so close to authentic, they'll nearly fool an expert.

There are counterfeit items from the high end to the low end when it applies to Coca Cola collectibles. Some items are actually newly manufactured to look like older items but they were never really existed in original form. In collector's language these items are called "fantasies". These items can be found everywhere in small shops to antique dealers. Most of the time they are not sold intentionally mislead the buyers but they do exist and you need to be on your toes to know which items to look out for.

Many people also collect Pepsi products. It's always best to purchase expensive items from a dealer you know and trust. In order to receive top dollar when you sell your items, it's a good idea to have a dealer authenticate them for you.

When collecting Coca Cola items you will do fine as long you are aware that reproductions and fantasy items do exist. There are many original Coke items that are not expensive and you can find them in old or new versions. This gives you a way to begin collecting the Coca Cola items that you love.