Did you know that those dusty old soda bottles in your attic could actually be worth hundreds—or even thousands? While most of us simply toss empty bottles without a second thought, savvy collectors who know their actual worth are quietly building small fortunes from them.
This article reveals the 12 most valuable vintage soda bottles sought after by collectors worldwide. I’ve also shared some key signs of spotting valuable examples. Who knows, you might own a rare bottle that could make you rich!
1. Pepsi-Cola Embossed Bottles
This is an extremely rare vintage ginger ale bottle from the Pepsi Cola Company. It has a distinctive, curvy, hourglass-like shape with original “Indian Rock/Ginger Ale/Pepsi Cola/Richmond” embossing on the front.
This particular Pepsi-Cola soda bottle is quite difficult to find today, especially in good condition, thus commanding premium values.
2. Elk Spring Root Beer ACL Soda Bottle
Elk Spring’s root beer bottle features a horizontally ribbed body with a textured neck and a rounded mouth. The defining feature of this bottle is its dark amber glass and the ACL labeling of Elk Spring Beverage Company featuring an elk.
Elk Spring was one of the leading soft drink bottling companies of its time, making the early soda pop bottles highly collectible today. In rare shapes and colors, a single bottle can be worth $100-$500 or more.
3. B&H ACL Soda Bottle
This vintage ACL soda bottle from B&H Bottling Company is rare due to the company’s short life and limited popularity. It’s a standard soda bottle with dark red printing.
The main labeling includes the “B&H” name on top! There’s another red and black B&H Beverage ACL at the lower side featuring a rodeo scene with a bronc rider, and the framed location label at the back.
B&H is one of the short-lived soda brands, making this soda bottle highly collectible today. No wonder a collector bought it for over $730!
4. F.H. Kump Soda Bottle
This antique vintage soda bottle from F.H. Kump has the old-fashioned aqua-colored glass body with the distinctive “blob top” closure. The bottle is embossed “F.H. KUMP KANSAS CITY” on the front.
The gravitating stopper mechanism, handblown body, and original embossing make this antique soda bottle quite rare and sought-after today. Depending on the condition, the value can range from $100-$600 or more.
5. Coca-Cola Hutchinson Bottle (Pre-1900s)
This is one of the earliest Coca-Cola bottles from the pre-1900s, making it extremely rare. It’s a long and slim straight aqua glass soda bottle with a ribbed shape at the bottom and a blob top. The opening is sealed with a Hutchinson spring stopper.
The bottle also has the “FLORIDA/COA COLA/BOTTLING Co.” and “THIS BOTTLE NEVER SOLD” embossing. This rare soda bottle can range from $200 to $1,000, depending on the condition.
6. Dr. Pepper Embossed Bottles (1920s–1930s)
This is an early Dr. Pepper straight-sided soda bottle from the 20s, when the company still used embossed labeling to mark their bottles. It features the standard “Dr. Pepper” name embossed right in the front with “Good For Life” embossed below it and a stylized embossed 10-2-4 clock at the back.
The value of an embossed Dr. Pepper soda bottle can range from $15 – $150+, based on condition.
7. Coca-Cola Christmas Bottle (Dec. 25, 1923)
This is a special, limited-edition Coca-Cola soda bottle featuring the iconic contour shape (aka the “hobble-skirt” shape) in “Georgia Green” glass. This bottle was released on 25th December, 1923, as a holiday edition.
The bottle features the standard Coca-Cola embossing on the front along with other embossing, such as the date “Dec. 25, 1923” and “Monroe/MICH” at the bottom.
8. Pepsi Gold and Silver Commemorative Bottle
These rare Pepsi soda bottles are rare due to their distinctive silver appearance, commemorating a specific event or anniversary for Pepsi. The bottle shows the standard Pepsi logo on the front and the “Excelencia en Calidad” label on the back.
The unique metallic body and monotone Pepsi logo of this bottle make it quite rare, justifying its value of $100-$500 in good condition.
9. J. Kennedy, Pittsburgh, PA Soda Bottle
This rare aqua soda bottle embossed “J. Kennedy/Pittsburgh” has a wide body with a long neck and curved lips. This bottle sold for almost $250 due to its antique make, which is reflected by its pontil marks and other flaws in the glass, such as bubbles, lines, and swirls.
10. Lewenthal Carbonating Palestine Texas Soda Blob Bottle
This is an old-fashioned “blob top” soda bottle from Lewenthal Carbonating Company characterized by a thick, rounded lip designed to seal with a Hutchinson stopper. The body is usually cylindrical or slightly tapered.
The bottles display the brand embossing along with the location “Palestine, Texas,” making it rarer and valuable.
11. 7up ACL “Bubble Girl” Bottle (1940s)
This is a standard soda bottle from 7up, featuring a narrow neck and rounded shoulders. It features an ACL label (Applied Color Label) showing a girl blowing bubbles, giving it the name “Bubble Girl.” You will find other brand-related information printed on the back.
The “Bubble Girl” design is one of the most iconic and nostalgic designs of 7up, making this bottle quite collectible today. The value can range from $25 – $200+, based on the condition.
12. Orange Crush Krinkly Bottles (1920s–1930s)
Orange Crush’s “Krinkly” soda bottles were popular in the 20s and 30s. These have a tall, cylindrical body with a textured “krinkly” surface mimicking the squeezed peel of an orange. The bottles are embossed with the “Orange Crush Co. Bottle.”
The company made these bottles mostly in clear or amber colors, with a very few examples in other colors, like green, making them valuable.
How to Know Which Vintage Soda Bottles Are Valuable?
As we saw above, the value of antique soda bottles can vary from hundreds to thousands. But how would you know which bottle is valuable and which isn’t? Well, the value depends on certain factors, listed below:
Age
Previous auctions and sales indicate that older soda bottles, particularly those made before the mass production of machine-made glass (pre-1900s), generally fetch higher prices. These bottles are most often mouth-blown, making them rarer.
Here are some signs that indicate a pre-1900s soda bottle:
- Pontil Marks: The presence of a pontil mark or scar on the base where the pontil rod was attached during the glass-blowing process indicates a mouth-blown glass.
- Top Style: Most of the pre-1900s soda bottles feature blob tops (1850s–1900s), Hutchinson stoppers, and crown tops.
- Flaws in the Glass: Antique handmade soda bottles generally have flaws, like bubbles, ripples, and uneven surfaces.
In contrast, the post-1900s machine-made soda bottles likely feature visible seams or straight lines running up to the lip. Besides, there are no bubbles or other flaws, and the surface of these bottles is generally smooth and even.
Condition & Color
Needless to say, nobody wants to pay much for a bottle in bad shape. Bottles that are free from any damage, including cracks, chips, cloudy glass, or faded label and embossing, always fetch premium prices.
Also, additional items like original caps, labels, and original crates can add more to the value.
Similarly, soda bottles in rare colors, deep emerald green, cobalt blue, aqua blue (popular in the 19th century), and black are generally more valuable than common colors like clear, amber, and light green.
Embossing & Labels
Generally, there are three types of labeling in vintage soda bottles, influencing their values:
- Embossed: While marking is always desirable, embossed (raised glass lettering) soda bottles are the most valuable. Generally, most late 19th and early 20th-century bottles feature embossed markings, making them even rarer.
- ACL (Applied Color Label): ACL was introduced in the 1930s–1940s, and quickly replaced the embossing markings. ACL bottles with unique colors and designs can also be valuable, depending on how intact and vivid the ACL is.
- Paper Labels: Some vintage soda bottles feature paper labels, which have a low survival chance.
Brand & Rarity
Vintage soda bottles made by renowned bottling companies usually fetch higher returns. For example, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, 7UP, Dr. Pepper, and Orange Crush bottles are highly desirable.
However, bottles produced by small-town or regional soda companies, especially in the late 1800s mid mid-1900s featuring blob-top or Hutchinson styles, are also collectible. These bottles were made in limited numbers, making them difficult to get your hands on.
In addition, limited edition bottles or promotional bottles can also be highly collectible. For example, the Coca-Cola Christmas bottle and the Pepsi silver bottle.
