Coca Cola's Iconic Santa Claus Collectibles

When you think of Santa, what face comes to mind? Most likely it is one of the Coca Cola Santa Claus designed by Haddon Sundblom.

Sundblom first showed his face of Santa Claus in 1931. It was an advertising design Sundblom made based around the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Although Coke had tried several other Santa Claus' in ad campaigns, this is the one that sparked the public interest. It soon became most everyone's ideal picture of Santa Claus.

It has been featured on just about everything coke related and some not.

Prices on his artwork vary greatly and are always rising. His artwork was made between 1932 and 1964. Santa usually had a Coke bottle in hand, but could be with a train, a stuffed animal, with a bag of toys, near a Christmas tree, a window, with children, whispering to a dog and many more.

One of the reasons this figure became so large is Coke not only made signs and paper products featuring Santa, but expanded on a variety of items.

First, let's look at advertising on the back page of magazines. Often National Geographic's held images of this iconic figure holding a soda. Some are valued at $5. Others such as a 1930 print featuring Santa as "The Busiest Man n the World" is valued over $50. Many others have become very common and you can usually get a good deal purchasing these on eBay.

Posters are a bit more rare and can be valued up to $150 for ones from the 1950s in mint condition. Most average $10-$20.

Cardboard cutouts are another popular form featuring the Coke Santa Claus. These are more rare and can be worth from $100 to $5,000 depending on rarity and condition. Those from the 1930s are valued the highest.

Coke Santa Calendars became popular in the 1940s. These can be worth as much as $500 in good condition although most common ones are valued around $20. New ones come out each year so keep your eyes open for them.

Figurines and ornaments are very common. Some figurines go into the hundreds of dollars. Most are much cheaper.

When it comes to ornaments (it seems I have most of them) these range from a few dollars each to about $25 apiece. Dough Art (which I have none) are the most valuable. Round ornaments range around $10 apiece. Trim-A-Tree collections go for $10-$15 if you find the right buyer.

I particularly like Coke ornaments featuring Santa and the polar bear and those seem to be worth around $2 each. Oh well!

You may have seen Coca Cola Santa dolls. A 1970 Rushton black Santa doll is the top of the line valued around $250. Others average around $50 in box.

There are many more miscellaneous Coke Santa collectibles you will find available. Many are musical figures. Book price is around $35, but you can buy some on eBay for as low as $10. I recently sold my collection of these at a very low price.

When it comes to tin, beware. Many are reproductions. You are looking for older ones from the 1950-70s which are worth around $35. Others are worth no more than $10.

Bell Jars are another cute item and are valued around $50 apiece. Steins came out in the 1990s and usually go for around $40 each.

There are plenty of glasses out there. I tend to pick them up at a thrift store or tag sale for $1 each. There are so many it is hard to price. Complete sets seem to be worth the most.

Coke made several soda bottles featuring the iconic figure. The most valuable ones are from 1987 called "Springtime in Atlanta". These were made as convention bottles and are worth $50 each. Others usually range around the $3 mark. Cans are not worth more than $1.

There are many more items featuring everyone's favorite Santa Claus. If he is yours, then get a guidebook and keep searching. The Coke Santa Claus continues to delight people from every age all year long.