Denny’s and trading cards share a popular history. However, it typically involves Grand Slam breakfasts, holograms and 1990s baseball cards. Baseball cleats give way to hairy feet with 2012 Denny’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey trading cards.
The set was part of a promotional tie-in at the restaurant that arrived around the time that Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings prequel was about to blitz multiplexes. Packs included three total cards, although one was a coupon.
The base set consists of just ten cards. Rather than getting into the story, this is a character-driven release. Each card has a different Middle-earth inhabitant from the movie. Fronts have a full-bleed photo along with their name, the film’s logo and the release date. Backs have a second image along with a bio about them. The Denny’s logo anchors the copyright info at the bottom.
Two Gold Bordered Limited Edition cards of Bilbo and Gandalf are the lone chase elements in the promotional set. One of these land approximately every 16 packs.
Rounding out the set are the one-per-pack coupons. Four different exist, each with a different offer. The Gold cards are pictured together on the opposite side.
Eventually, Cryptozoic would release a comprehensive set of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey trading cards. However, it didn’t come out until mid-way through 2014.
2012 Denny’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay or to check current market values.
Set size: 10 cards
Cards per pack: 3
Shop for 2012 Denny’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey packs on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
10 cards.
Buy on eBay:
Balin
Bilbo Baggins
Dwalin
Fili
Galadriel
Gandalf the Grey
Gollum
Kili
Radagast the Brown
Thorin Oakenshield
Gold Bordered Limited Edition Checklist
2 cards.
1:16 packs.
Bilbo Baggins
Gandalf the Grey
Coupon Cards Checklist
4 cards.
1 per pack.
$5.00 Off Any Check of $25 or More – Bilbo Baggins / Gandalf the Grey
20% Off Enitre Guest Check – Bilbo Baggins / Gandalf the Grey
Free Beverage with Purchase of an Entr̩e РBilbo Baggins / Gandalf the Grey
Free Pancake Puppies with Purchase of an Entr̩e РBilbo Baggins / Gandalf the Grey
