David Lange – One of the World’s Leading Experts on Coinage

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation mourns the passing of its longtime Research Director, David W. Lange – one of the world’s foremost authorities on coinage.

He served as Research Director since 1994, creating much of NGC’s coin-related content throughout his nearly 30-year tenure. Furthermore, he played an integral role in developing VarietyPlus(r) variety attribution program and Photo Proof(r) service.

Early Life and Education

David coin began his career in coin collecting in the early 1980s. Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, he grew up on his family’s business dealing with coins and banknotes.

He attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and traded coins for cash to fund his studies. This experience ultimately led him to launch his own business venture.

While in college, he also created his first syndicated newspaper column on ecology. Additionally, he videotaped seminars and lectures about numismatics to make them accessible to a wider audience.

Professional Career

David Coin has been involved in the numismatic business since he was a teenager in 1953. Over these decades, he has authored hundreds of auction catalogs, books and numismatic articles.

Bowers has dedicated his life to coin collecting, serving as a dealer, numismatic writer and research expert. A member of both the American Numismatic Association and Professional Numismatists Guild, he served as president for both organizations.

He served as Director of Research for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, overseeing die variety attribution, counterfeit detection, research and writing. Furthermore, he contributed to NGC’s coin census report and Certified Collectors Registry.

Achievement and Honors

David Coin was an esteemed researcher and author. He authored multiple books and other works, earning him worldwide recognition for his numismatic research.

He served as Director of Research for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) from 1994 until his retirement in 2015. During this nearly 30-year period, he created much of the company’s coin-related content.

He was an influential figure within the numismatic community, serving as board member and officer for multiple organizations. For his accomplishments, he received many honors including ANA’s Numismatist of the Year award in 2017.

Personal Life

David Coin was a renowned numismatist, having earned the reputation as one of the world’s foremost experts on coins. He was a Fellow of both the American Numismatic Society and New York Numismatic Club, serving on its board of directors since 1996.

In addition to his extensive coin collection, he had a passion for medallic art. His favorites included World War I, German Expressionist and modern art medals.

He was an incredible intellect with a deep-seated interest in history and people. Additionally, he practiced commercial and residential real estate law for over 50 years across both New York and New Jersey, leaving behind his wife Nancy, three children, and numerous grandchildren. On January 16, 2023 he succumbed to cancer after fighting it for many months.

Net Worth

Net worth is the total value of assets you own minus liabilities you owe, and it provides a more accurate indication of your financial health than income alone.

Assets refer to cash, investments and property. Liabilities refer to credit card debt, personal loans and auto loans.

A person with a large amount of assets and little debt will have a higher net worth than someone with few possessions and substantial debt.

David has extensive coin collecting experience, as well as having worked in the authentication and grading field since 2002. He co-founded Professional Coin Grading Service and served as its president and chief operating officer until September 2018, when he was dismissed from PCGS due to personal reasons.