The Coca-Cola trademark is the most recognized symbol in the world. It is no wonder that collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia is enjoyed by many thousands of people worldwide. There are so many items which feature the famous symbol, that most collectors end up specializing in specific items such as: pins, bottles, cans, yo-yo's, trays, Etc.
The area in which I 'specialize', or rather have gotten the most enjoyment out of, for the last 14 years is Coca-Cola can collecting. There are many countries in which Coca-Cola is produced in aluminum cans. Most countries print the cans in their native language, and come in a variety of sizes ranging from 150ml, to 500ml. These differences in languages and sizes, along with the tremendous advertising strategy of the company, have made for almost a limitless number of different cans over the years. Many events are advertised on Coke cans, such as the Olympic Games, World Cup soccer events, NFL, Major League Baseball, and so on. These cans have beautiful artwork on them, and look great on display.
The Internet has provided an incredible opportunity for Coca-Cola collectors. Home pages and e-mail have made it possible for collectors from all over the world to contact each another, and to set up trades with one another. I have made several new friends over the worldwide web, and have expanded my Coca-Cola can collection to over 450 different cans from over 45 countries.
Each collector is different, and one of the main questions brought up is whether to collect full or empty cans. Many people prefer full cans, (which is a great way to taste Coke from different parts of the world- the tastes are different) but make it more difficult for storage and display. Shelves full of full cans are extremely heavy, and can be unstable.
Also, full cans can over-pressurize, and explode, or rust through the sides of the can. This is not uncommon at all, and most cans will lose much of their contents from either of these two things after 4 or 5 years. This can be very messy, and hard to clean up, and can ruin the can. (Trust me, it has happened to many of us)
One way to avoid this, but to keep the aesthetic beauty of the can intact, is to bottom open the can. Cans, which are bottom opened, maintain their 'mint' condition status to most collectors. This seems to be the most popular way to collect and store cans. To bottom open a can, turn it upside down on a flat stable surface. Take a hammer, and either a nail, or other small sharp object, and punch 2 tiny holes, one on either side of the bottom. Turn the can back over, drain into a glass and drink! Rinse out the can with warm water, and let dry, before displaying.
For trading cans, make sure you package them well. I don't know how many times I have received cans in the mail that have been poorly packaged, and arrived damaged. This is frustrating, and makes the cans worthless. Each can should be individually wrapped in newspaper, or bubble wrap etc, to keep them from rubbing against each other and scratching one another. Use a stiff sided box or tube, and allow for some kind of packing material to surround the cans (newspaper, foam chips). Sending empty cans through the mail is also much cheaper!
I hope that this article has given you some helpful information into the exciting world of Coca-Cola can collecting. If you have any questions about this hobby, or want to do some trading, please feel free to contact me at my e-mail address:
jtal@ix.netcom.com.
