Dear Helaine and Joe: I have in my possession a buckle and belt signed on the back "Tiffany Studios, New York" and "A Coca-Cola creation Trans Pan Exposition San Francisco 1915." It is approximately 3 5/8 inches by 2 5/8 inches and appears to be made of brass. I hope you can tell me whether or not it is authentic and if it has any monetary value. —J.K., Naples, Fla.
Dear J.K.: There is an aphorism that maintains that "if it is too good to be true — it probably is," and this belt buckle is a great case in point. This belt buckle has all the collector "hot buttons" — it is "Tiffany," it purports to be from a world's fair, it's "Coca-Cola" and it has the racy image of a nude sitting on a crescent moon.
Unfortunately, this piece is an out-and-out fake. It is not even a reproduction of an old item but instead is what Coca-Cola collectors call a "fantasy," which is a piece that never existed as an old item, was not used in advertising by the Coca-Cola Co. (nor sanctioned by them), but is a modern creation meant to appeal to collectors or to mislead the unwary.
There are literally tons and tons of these Coca-Cola "fantasy" items out there lurking in flea markets and garage sales. The variety seems to be endless, and belt buckles are one of the favorite items to be made as "fantasies," and many of them feature nude women, including one extremely tasteless and offensive example that has the representation of a nude nun of all things!
Other types of "fantasy" items include mirrors, door push plates, glass signs, tin signs, plates, straw holders, paperweights, playing cards, pocket mirrors, pocket knives, pocket watches and serving trays. It should be mentioned that the fertile minds of fakers are working at this very moment and new, never before seen Coca-Cola "fantasy" items are probably coming in from Asia at this very moment. Many of these are meant for the giftware market, but others are meant to deceive — buyer beware!
Now, this belt buckle should not fool anyone for a variety of reasons. The first clue is that it was purportedly made for the "Trans-Pan Exposition" held in San Francisco in 1915; there was no such exposition. There was an exposition held in San Francisco in 1915, but it was the "Panama Pacific" not the "Trans-Pan."
Also, the claim on the back that "Tiffany Studios" had something to do with this belt buckle is a real chuckle. Yes, Tiffany Studios made items from metal, but they were in the business of making very fine quality luxury goods and certainly not belt buckles to be used as common advertising by the Coca-Cola Co. at some West Coast World's Fair.
At this point the question arises: Does this buckle have any value beyond what it would cost to buy it new? The answer is that this piece is virtually worthless at the present moment and is an object of derision by serious Coca-Cola collectors. But who knows what tomorrow may bring.
There is some thought that the Coca-Cola "fantasy" items may be collectible in the distant future, especially such things as that outrageous belt buckle with the shocking image of the nude nun. But who knows? Our crystal ball is out for repair at the moment and we are not privy to what the future might actually bring.
Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are the authors of the "Price It Yourself" (HarperResource, $19.95). Questions can by mailed to them at P.O. Box 12208, Knoxville, TN 37912-0208.