Coca-Cola Flapper Girl Tray

Q :        I have a Coca-Cola serving tray that matches those I have seen online. It’s from 1923 and pictures the “Flapper Girl.” How can I tell if it’s a reproduction or an original?

A :       Coca-Cola’s early lithographed tin serving trays are probably the most desirable of Coke collectibles. An original 1923 Coca-Cola serving tray is rectangular and measures 13 1/4 inches high by 10 1/2 inches wide. It’s worth close to $400 if it’s in near-mint condition or better. Of course, most old trays aren’t near-mint, so even if yours is old, it probably won’t sell for that much. Reproductions of this tray have been made since the 1970s, some even by the Coca-Cola Co. Some reproductions are round or oval, some may be marked with phrases like “Reg. U.S. Patent Office,” and some may show a slightly altered image.