Road Closed Sign Appraisal

Road Closed to Thru Traffic Street Sign from the City of Santa Monica

This is an authentic, rectangular 'ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC' street sign from the City of Santa Monica. The sign measures 40x20 inches and is constructed from a metal sheet, likely aluminum, given the common material for traffic signs. The primary color is a faded off-white or silver-gray, characteristic of reflective material that has seen significant outdoor exposure. The text, in a sans-serif font, is rendered in black capital letters. The sign has a noticeable black border around its perimeter, which is slightly thicker than the strokes of the lettering. The overall condition shows considerable wear consistent with prolonged outdoor use and handling. There are numerous scratches, scuffs, and abrasions across the reflective surface, particularly concentrated in the central areas and around the lettering. These marks reveal underlying layers or the base metal in some places, suggesting the reflective coating has been compromised. Dirt and grime are evident, creating a mottled, weathered appearance, especially within the scratched areas and along the edges. There are no visible maker's marks or specific manufacturing stamps discernible in the provided images, which is common for standard municipal signage. The sign appears to have rounded corners, a typical safety and durability feature. The age is estimated to be modern to mid-20th century, given its functional design and material, but its exact vintage is unknown without specific manufacturing dates. The extensive patina and signs of use indicate it was genuinely deployed as a traffic control device rather than being a replica or new old stock.