A new football card product has been added to the NFL trading card calendar. 2018 Panini Obsidian is scheduled to arrive the day before Thanksgiving as a higher-end product on the company’s Optichrome card stock.
What does Obsidian mean? If you’re a geologist, you probably already know. If not, well it’s “a dark natural glass formed by the cooling of molten lava,” according to Webster’s. That shiny, dark look is what Panini was apparently after with its cardboard version.
2018 Panini Obsidian Basics
Each box will contain one pack of seven cards. On average, each pack will have four autograph or memorabilia cards, two base parallels and one base card. Panini says all cards will be numbered to 100 or less.
Base Set
The base set will have just 100 cards with seven colored ‘Electric Etch’ parallels numbered anywhere from 75 to 1. There will also be a 100-card Rookies set with the same parallel configuration.
Autographs and Memorabilia Cards
Rookie Jersey Autographs will carry a memorabilia swatch and a signature from one of this year’s picks. Each is numbered to 100 or less with five colored parallel versions also in the mix.
There’s also a Rookie Jersey Ink subset that features a second memorabilia swatch and autograph of one of this year’s top 30 draft picks.
Matrix Material Autos combine what Panini calls “sleek opti-chrome technology, vibrant etching and authentic jerseys and signatures.” Each will be numbered to 100 or less with five colored parallels. Among those on the autograph checklist: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, Joe Montana and Ben Roethlisberger.
Lightning Strike and Aurora Autographs will feature current veterans and retired greats, again all numbered to 100 or less including the five lower numbered parallels.
Rookie Eruption, Galaxy Gear and Cutting Edge are die-cut memorabilia card inserts while Vitreous die-cuts are case hits with five parallel versions to chase.
2018 Panini Obsidian is scheduled for a November 21 release date with a retail price of around $160.
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