Coca-Cola began producing serving trays and tip trays in 1897. Collectors consider 1897-1968 as the “original” era. The collectibles market is filled with thousands of reproduction Coca-Cola trays, many produced by Coca-Cola itself. They are marked on the back with a Coca-Cola label, date and description.

Authentic vintage trays have black backs, while reproductions have yellow, white or other colored backs. Also, on original trays, the tail of the capital “C” in Coca has a trademark that reads “Trade Mark Registered” or “Trade Mark reg. us. pat off” or something similar. If these words are crudely written, the tray may be a fake.

Original trays usually have the date, the manufacturer, place where they were produced, and “Made in USA.” Not every tray has all this information. Make sure the colors are from known examples of vintage trays. And it’s always wise to make sure the provenance of any tray you are considering purchasing is correct.

Photos courtesy of Morphy Auctions