Topps Cards - Front vs Back Serial Numbering for Parallels

[BagwellHOF]

Is there any logic or reasoning behind why Topps puts the serial numbering of parallels on the fronts of some cards and the backs of others?

I have noticed it even varies by set by year. One year it will be on the back, the next on the front.

The majority of the time I think it looks a lot better on the back, and I wish they'd just do all the cards that way.

[towerymt]

Could have made a good poll.

I'd like to hear from the experts on when/why this changed, but my perception was they started showing up on the front on some lower-numbered cards. I might be mistaken...were there sets where some parallels were numbered on the back and some parallels were numbered on the front, within the same set?

I prefer number on the back, too. Although for Clear parallels, I don't mind it being on the front since it might show through from the back and that would be worse.

[BagwellHOF]

Good idea. I added a poll to the thread.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

I voted “don’t care”, but if I had to choose I would place them on the back.

[Drew3000]

I voted front since a lot of eBay sellers don’t take pics of the back

[Mister2Bits]

I'm on both sides of the fence.

I pulled a Ohtani Heritage red ink and was annoyed when I realized they hand numbered the back instead of the front. But then I also collect Ginter Mini /25 which are normally hand numbered on the back, but they recently switched it to the front and I was annoyed with that too.

However, if I had my preference for one over the other, it would have to be front. But more importantly, just be consistent!

[PoPCulture]

I’ve heard a couple of breakers say that they like the numbering on the front so they don’t need to turn the card over to read the number “On the Refractor”. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the reason Topps started numbering them on the front.
Personally, I try not to be too anal about it but probably prefer the rear.

[LVDan]

I prefer the numbering on back, not taking away from the photo or design.
Most importantly I crave consistency in all this crap. Keep the heritage red inks and other rare heritage hits hand numbered on front and clear cards and everything else on the back in the upper right corner, the way it had been for years.

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I voted “don’t care”, but if I had to choose I would place them on the back.

I voted “don’t care”, but if I had to choose I would place them on the back.

[hermanotarjeta]

It’s a breaker thing. They like to slow roll the number in the front.

[base set]

I fat fingered my vote, wrong, bummer

I figure the reality is the real decision making on this happens arbitrarily at the printing plant anyways. If a sheet has to be flipped before stamping then some operators are going to just say F it and get on with their work day.

I also think this is more important on Minis in particular.

[vwnut13]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

It’s a breaker thing. They like to slow roll the number in the front.

It's a breaker thing. It slows down breaks if they have to flip a card over

[mfisher27]

Front / Back doesn't bother me as much as the change they made recently to the actual numbering. Now it looks like some kind of kit you could buy at Hobby Lobby.

They need to bring back the actual machine stamped numbering.

[RW3FAN]

Originally Posted by vwnut13

It's a breaker thing. It slows down breaks if they have to flip a card over

If I hit a Gold refractor....... I know it's out of 50, DUH.
If I hit a Red refractor...... I know it's out of 5, DUH.

[GaryPayton]

Been liking the front serial numbering in 2024 Topps, maybe its just this years design. Especially the gold waves, it pops.

[jduds]

I slightly prefer the front if it doesn't distract from the image. For things like Finest or Cosmic with design backgrounds instead of photos, I like the numbers on the front. For things with photos, I prefer numbering on the back.

[corockies]

It's been rather consistent this year - it seems like chrome card parallels have the serial # on front. Non-chrome card parallels have the serial #s on the back. (Unless it's a relic or autograph card)

[atk825]

Originally Posted by BagwellHOF

Is there any logic or reasoning behind why Topps puts the serial numbering of parallels on the fronts of some cards and the backs of others?

I have noticed it even varies by set by year. One year it will be on the back, the next on the front.

The majority of the time I think it looks a lot better on the back, and I wish they'd just do all the cards that way.

The thing that sucks about PSA slabs is that the serial number isn't on it. So you see parallels, colors aren't always consistent, so it's hard to know what it's out of. So that helps. That said, aesthetically, it's not that great.

[BagwellHOF]

I think people are correct that numbering on the front helps breakers and online sellers.

I forgot about hand numbering, and when it is part of the autograph, I do like that on the front.

I really don't like the foil numbering on the front of non-auto cards. It just looks out of place on the card in my opinion.

I've noticed some of the higher end Topps cards like Topps Gilded seem to be using a nicer looking and more bold foil stamp for the numbering. I actually think this looks a lot better. I've seen way too many high end cards numbered /5 or /10 that have numbering that looks like it was mis-stamped on the front of the card.

Tangential topic... does PSA consider the positioning and quality of the serial number stamp on the front of the card when grading? I saw a 2024 Topps Cosmic with the serial number misaligned and stamped on top of the Topps logo. Could that still get a 10?

[Hollywood42]

All of this. Back is better, but just keep it consistent

Originally Posted by LVDan

I prefer the numbering on back, not taking away from the photo or design.
Most importantly I crave consistency in all this crap. Keep the heritage red inks and other rare heritage hits hand numbered on front and clear cards and everything else on the back in the upper right corner, the way it had been for years.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Highlighting or emphasizing the serial number is only necessary when people wouldn’t otherwise know how rare the card is.

It’s done to help newbies or people who know nothing about cards understand how many of that card was produced…but more importantly it’s also done for collectors to more easily “impress” their non-collecting card-ignorant friends LOL.

But to people knowledgeable about the card, having the serial number on front is kind of cheap and insulting.

[NYBBFAN]

Seems like the majority of people here prefer it in the rear.

[base set]

Originally Posted by NYBBFAN

Seems like the majority of people here prefer it in the rear.

Yeah, “Rip it” would probably beat “Buy singles” in a poll too.

[ScooterD]

Originally Posted by RW3FAN

If I hit a Gold refractor....... I know it's out of 50, DUH.
If I hit a Red refractor...... I know it's out of 5, DUH.

They have changed throughout the years and differ between brands.

Can you name one color parallel that has always been the same print run across all brands since the initial appearance?

[vwnut13]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

They have changed throughout the years and differ between brands.

Can you name one color parallel that has always been the same print run across all brands since the initial appearance?

Also, can you really tell the difference between the Gold Refractor, Banana Refractor, Daffodil Refractor, Canary Refractor, Dandelion Refractor, School Bus Refractor, and Nacho Cheese Refractor without checking the serial number?