2026 Leaf Metal Presidents' Day Set
The 2026 Leaf Metal Presidents' Day set is a unique multi-sport and pop culture trading card release that blends athletic prowess, celebrity appeal, and American patriotism into a high-end autograph-focused product. Released on February 11, 2026, just ahead of Presidents' Day, this set from Leaf Trading Cards celebrates U.S. history through innovative designs featuring presidential portraits, historical documents, and landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the White House. With a checklist spanning sports icons (e.g., Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lionel Messi), entertainment stars (e.g., Ben Affleck, Margot Robbie), and even political figures tied to thematic inserts, it appeals to collectors seeking crossover content. The set's scarcity—most cards numbered to 5 or fewer, many at 1/1—positions it as a premium chase, though the absence of relics and focus on signatures might limit broader interest.
As a reviewer, I rate this set an 8/10. Strengths include creative theming that ties autographs to Americana (e.g., We The People on Constitution backgrounds), a star-studded roster blending sports and celebs, and guaranteed hits in every box. Weaknesses: High variance due to 1/1 dominance can make pulls feel uneven, and the $80-100 box price demands value from big names. It's ideal for autograph hunters or patriotic collectors, but completionists may struggle with the rainbow of low-numbered parallels. Compared to Leaf's Sports Heroes, this feels more niche but equally innovative.
Box and Pack Breakdown: Distribution and Ratios
The set is available in a single hobby box format, emphasizing quality over quantity with no filler cards.
- Hobby Boxes: Contain 1 pack with 4 cards—3 autographs and 1 unsigned "The Presidents" base card. Priced around $80-100, boxes guarantee premium hits without commons. Cases hold 10 boxes (40 cards total), averaging 1-2 multi-signed cards (duals, triples, or quads) per case, or about 0.1-0.2 per box. This low ratio amps up the excitement for group breaks but increases variance— a box might yield three solid singles, while another scores a 1/1 quad.
Distribution prioritizes rarity: All autographs are low-numbered (mostly /5 or less), with no unnumbered bases beyond the thematic "The Presidents" insert (up to /15). Multi-signed cards are case hits, appearing sporadically. In practice, expect a mix of sports (e.g., basketball, baseball) and non-sports autographs, with redemptions minimal for select stars. No super boxes or blasters; this is purely hobby-oriented.
This promotional image captures the set's patriotic branding, featuring the Leaf Metal logo and Presidents' Day banner.
Card Types, Inserts, and Themes
The set is autograph-heavy (over 90% of cards), divided into base and thematic inserts that honor American history. Themes incorporate U.S. icons like the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and presidential seals, creating visually striking cards.
- Base Autographs (181 Cards): Core singles featuring athletes, celebrities, and figures. Examples: BA-AS1 Adam Schefter, BA-AI1 Allen Iverson (Philadelphia), BA-CMC Conor McGregor, BA-OD1 Olivia Dunne. Many include city designations for sports ties (e.g., BA-NR1 Nolan Ryan, Texas).
- We The People Autographs (137 Cards): Horizontal inserts with historical backgrounds. Examples: WP-AI1 Allen Iverson (Philadelphia), WP-GA1 Giannis Antetokounmpo, WP-BA1 Ben Affleck. Themes evoke patriotism, blending pop culture with Americana.
- The Presidents (45-47 Cards): Unsigned base inserts portraying all U.S. Presidents. Examples: TP-1 George Washington, TP-16 Abraham Lincoln, up to TP-47 Donald J. Trump. These are the only non-autos, serving as thematic anchors.
- Mount Rushmore Autographs (70 Cards): Die-cut cards shaped like the monument. Examples: MR-AI1 Allen Iverson, MR-GA1 Giannis Antetokounmpo, MR-PM1 Peyton Manning (Indianapolis).
- The White House Autographs (70 Cards): Horizontal die-cut autos with White House imagery. Examples: WH-AI1 Allen Iverson, WH-LB1 Larry Bird (Boston), WH-TT1 Tim Tebow (Denver).
Multi-signed inserts add star power:
- Dual Autographs (25 Cards): Pairings like DA-2 Cameron Boozer / Cayden Boozer, DA-12 Emmitt Smith / Tim Tebow, DA-15 Gal Gadot / Margot Robbie.
- Triple Autographs (6 Cards): Trios such as TA-1 George Foster / Johnny Bench / Tony Pérez, TA-5 Jean-Claude Van Damme / Chuck Norris / Conor McGregor.
- Quad Autographs (4 Cards): Groups like QA-1 Chris Webber / Peja Stojakovic / Mike Bibby / Vlade Divac.
These inserts provide narrative depth—e.g., a Mount Rushmore die-cut of Conor McGregor ties heroism to history—while the multi-sigs cross sports and entertainment for broad appeal.
Parallels and Variations: Numbers and Rarity
Parallels emphasize exclusivity, with structures varying by insert but consistently ultra-low.
- Base Autographs Parallels: Themed after U.S. Presidents (e.g., George Washington Super Prismatic Gold 1/1, Abraham Lincoln RWB Silver Circles 1/1). Sub-variations include Prismatic (with president-specific availability, often 1/1 or unavailable), Shimmer (1/1 colors), Crystal (1/1), Lazer (1/1), Lava (1/1 or 0), RWB Flood (1/1), Super Prismatic Gold (1/1). Not all cards have every president; availability marked as 1 (yes) or 0 (no) in checklists.
- We The People Parallels: Historical themes like Constitution (1/1), Map of USA (1/1), Declaration of Independence (1/1), Political Buttons (1/1), Mount Rushmore (1/1), Oval Office (1/1), Presidential Seal (1/1), White House (1/1). All 1/1, with Super Prismatic Gold 1/1.
- The Presidents Parallels: Numbered to /15 or fewer (e.g., Silver /15, Platinum /8, Pink /7, down to Black/Gold 1/1, RWB 1/1).
- Die-Cut Parallels (Mount Rushmore/White House): Colors like Purple /5, Orange /4, Blue /3, Red /2, Black/Gold 1/1, RWB Flood 1/1, Super Prismatic Gold 1/1. Shimmer variations also 1/1 to /5.
- Multi-Signed Parallels: Prismatic (Silver /1 to Gold 1/1), Shimmer (1/1 colors), RWB Flood 1/1, Super Prismatic Gold 1/1. All multi-sigs are 1/1 across boards.
Variations include player-specific exclusions (e.g., some lack certain presidents) and city designations (e.g., Boston for Wade Boggs). Printing plates exist for added rarity. This system creates a challenging rainbow chase, with 1/1s dominating for exclusivity but potentially overwhelming set builders.
Promotional artwork featuring presidents holding sample cards, highlighting the set's thematic integration of history and autographs.
Notable Numbered Cards and Examples
Standouts emphasize the set's blend of scarcity and star power:
- 1/1 Gold Shimmer Giannis Antetokounmpo (We The People): Basketball grail on Constitution foil.
- TA-5 Jean-Claude Van Damme / Chuck Norris / Conor McGregor (Triple Auto, RWB Flood 1/1): Action star/MMA crossover.
- MR-PM1 Peyton Manning (Mount Rushmore, Blue /3): Football legend in die-cut form.
- TP-16 Abraham Lincoln (The Presidents, Silver /15): Higher-numbered unsigned insert.
- DA-15 Gal Gadot / Margot Robbie (Dual Auto, Super Prismatic Gold 1/1): Hollywood pairing.
These highlight investment potential, especially for multi-sigs and die-cuts.
Final Review: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Collector Appeal
Strengths: Patriotic innovation, diverse checklist (sports, celebs, history), and guaranteed 3 autos per box make it engaging. Low numbers (/5 or less) ensure value retention. Weaknesses: 1/1-heavy parallels limit accessibility, no relics, and niche theme may not appeal universally.
Rating: 8/10. Recommended for autograph enthusiasts or Americana fans; join breaks to mitigate cost.
Visually Pleasing Checklist Overview
Below are summarized tables from the checklist, organized by sheet/subset for easy reference. Counts and examples derived from the full data; full spreadsheets available via official sources.
Base Auto Sheet
| Subset | Unique Cards | Key Examples | Parallel Structure | Numbering Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Auto | 181 | Adam Schefter (BA-AS1), Allen Iverson (BA-AI1, Philadelphia), Conor McGregor (BA-CMC) | President-themed (e.g., George Washington Super Prismatic Gold, Abraham Lincoln RWB Circles); sub-types: Prismatic, Shimmer, Crystal, Lazer, Lava, RWB Flood, Super Gold | Mostly 1/1; availability varies (1=yes, 0=no per card); e.g., Super Gold 1/1 always |
We The People Sheet
| Subset | Unique Cards | Key Examples | Parallel Structure | Numbering Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| We The People | 137 | Aaron Paul (WP-AP1), Giannis Antetokounmpo (WP-GA1), Ben Affleck (WP-BA1) | Historical (Constitution, Map of USA, Declaration, Buttons, Rushmore, Oval Office, Seal, White House); plus Crystal, Shimmer, Super Gold | All 1/1 across themes |
Metal Sheet
| Subset | Unique Cards | Key Examples | Parallel Structure | Numbering Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual Auto | 25 | Cameron Boozer / Cayden Boozer (DA-2), Gal Gadot / Margot Robbie (DA-15) | Prismatic (Silver to Gold 1/1), Shimmer 1/1, RWB Flood 1/1, Super Gold 1/1 | All 1/1 |
| Mount Rushmore | 70 | Allen Iverson (MR-AI1), Peyton Manning (MR-PM1, Indianapolis) | Colors (Purple /5 to Gold 1/1), Shimmer /5-1/1, RWB 1/1, Super Gold 1/1 | /5 or fewer |
| Quad Auto | 4 | Chris Webber / Peja Stojakovic / Mike Bibby / Vlade Divac (QA-1) | Same as Dual | All 1/1 |
| The Presidents | 45 | Abraham Lincoln (TP-16), George Washington (TP-1) | Colors (Silver /15 to Gold 1/1), RWB 1/1 | /15 or fewer (unsigned) |
| The White House | 70 | Larry Bird (WH-LB1, Boston), Tim Tebow (WH-TT1, Denver) | Same as Mount Rushmore | /5 or fewer |
| Triple Auto | 6 | Jean-Claude Van Damme / Chuck Norris / Conor McGregor (TA-5) | Prismatic 1/1, RWB 1/1, Super Gold 1/1 |
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