The Coca-Cola trademark was registered with the United States Patent Office in 1893.
Coca-Cola had first been served in Atlanta in 1886, but trademark registration came several years later as the drink developed into a broader commercial brand. The registration protected the name and supported the company’s expanding advertising and distribution efforts.
The trademark date is often confused with other milestones. John S. Pemberton created the original beverage in 1886, while Asa Candler became the principal owner after acquiring the business interests connected with Coca-Cola in 1888. The famous contour bottle arrived much later, in 1915.
Trademark protection was especially important as imitators began selling drinks with similar names and packaging. Coca-Cola’s branding, including its script logo and distinctive name, became as commercially valuable as the beverage itself. The 1893 registration therefore marks an early legal milestone in the company’s history rather than the drink’s invention date.