Coca-Cola Advertising Tray (not authenticated)

This is an oval metal advertising tray featuring classic Coca-Cola imagery, specifically depicting a young woman in a yellow dress and wide-brimmed hat holding a glass of Coca-Cola outdoors near roses. The physical construction consists of a stamped metal base with a rolled rim and a lithographed graphic surface in hues of yellow, brown, pink, and blue. The border includes decorative scrollwork elements alongside the text DRINK Coca-Cola at the top and bottom. Visible text along the lower right edge reads Printed 1973. Copyright The Coca Cola Company 1917. The item shows signs of age and handling, including minor surface scuffs, scratches, and slight oxidation or paint loss spots on the central illustration. The identification rests on the clearly visible brand logos and text printed directly onto the surface of the tray. The design style mimics early 20th-century promotional materials, consistent with commemorative or reproduction advertising items produced in the 1970s rather than a 1917 original, given the explicit 1973 print date marking on the face. Quality indicators are standard for mass-produced promotional metalware of the mid-20th century.

Based on what I can see in the photograph, this oval metal advertising tray bears imagery and text suggesting a 1973 production date referencing a 1917 copyright by The Coca-Cola Company. The item features classic promotional styling, a stamped metal base, rolled rim, and lithographed graphics. However, I cannot verify material composition, exact manufacturing era, or physical integrity from a photo alone, and physical inspection would be needed to confirm these details. The value estimate provided assumes the item matches this apparent mid-20th-century commemorative type. In current secondary markets, decorative vintage-style Coca-Cola advertising reproductions and commemorative trays from this era typically trade in a modest price range depending on condition. The item displays minor surface scuffs, scratches, and slight oxidation or paint loss, which moderately detract from its collector appeal. To determine whether this piece is a period commemorative item versus a later replica, one would need in-person examination by an expert appraiser, physical inspection of the lithography and metal aging, and review of any potential manufacturer hallmarks. If physical inspection were to reveal that the item is a more recent copy, reproduction, or made 'in the style of' rather than a vintage promotional piece from the 1970s, the value would likely decrease to the lower end of the decorative market or below.