My condolences and prayers to his family. I had just talked to him in October about first edition Whitman folders and he told me he had ceased selling all of his inventory. He said he had health issues, but at that time said that it wasn’t too serious. Guess he was being brave. I didn’t know at the time how ill he was. Nice man. Rest In Peace David.
Oh my. I am soooo saddened to hear this. In our last communication Dave had such hope that things would turn around for him this year. Rest in peace my dear friend.
Why is it that people like Dave are taken way too early? I have the biggest respect for him. He took the hobby into a direction that I loved. The pinpoint breakdown and comments on everything from strike to small nuances on various coins and minting practices were his forte.
And I loved it and ate it all up.
Too many collectors have gone. Nothing is the same as it once was........................
Pete
"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
@MFeld said:
I'm deeply saddened to report I've been told by a friend at NGC that David passed away last night. My condolences go out to his friends, family and loved ones.
@MFeld said:
I'm deeply saddened to report I've been told by a friend at NGC that David passed away last night. My condolences go out to his friends, family and loved ones.
@MFeld said:
I'm deeply saddened to report I've been told by a friend at NGC that David passed away last night. My condolences go out to his friends, family and loved ones.
I am deeply saddened by this. He was a true numismatist and, I am honored to say, a friend.
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
This is sooo sad. He was one of the great numismatists of our time. So much knowledge and always willing to share it.
He will be greatly missed.
My condolences to his family.
RIP Dave
Member of LSCC, EAC, Fly-In Club, BCCS Life member of ANA
What a shame, the good die young and way too early. I emailed him and wondered why I never got a reply back, now I know.
He was an absolute asset to the hobby in every way. Wish I got to know him better.
I just heard this news from Mark Borchardt about an hour ago. What a horrible loss. He was only 64 years old.
My wife and I knew Dave Lange from our time as members of the New Jersey Numismatic Society and from our more active days travelling to shows and seminars. He was of valuable help to me on many coin collector board and vintage album projects. On behalf of me, my wife, and my daughters who met him in the past, our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
When I collected Buffalo nickels, his book was the finest of the various guides to the series. I thought so much of his writing that I ended up buying his books on Mercury dimes and Lincoln cents even though I had little intention of collecting those series.
Very sad news.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
@breakdown said:
When I collected Buffalo nickels, his book was the finest of the various guides to the series. I thought so much of his writing that I ended up buying his books on Mercury dimes and Lincoln cents even though I had little intention of collecting those series.
Very sad news.
You are so right. And spot on. I spent hours going from coin to coin (and more than once) in his Buff and Lincoln books. He is where I learned a whole lot about individual coins and the idiosyncrasies of producing them by date.
Gosh, this is real real bad news.
Reminds me of a line in a song" "Good Time Charlie's got the blues".
Pete
"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
Dave was President of the New Jersey Numismatic Society in 2000-2001 before NGC moved to Sarasota. I was his Treasurer for part of that time.
He used to be so enthusiastic about US-Philippine coins before the prices escalated. He would give talks and promote them at every opportunity. This probably helped lead to the price runup which unfortunately drove him to get out. I bought all his Philippine auction catalogs when he moved to FL.
I never met Mr. Lange, but somewhat remarkably obtained two of his books only very recently - on Buffalo nickels late last year and on Mercury dimes just last week. I haven't actively collected either series for years, but found myself entranced by his writing and simply couldn't put the books down!
Put simply, he was flat out a terrific writer, engaging, accurate, concise and entertaining. His skills will be missed. And, it sounds from the many preceding posts in this thread, his personality, decency and humanity will be as well.
That is very sad news - he was a class act. Thanks for letting us know.
"My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose.
The first time I met David, I was just an idiot wandering the bourse and wanted to submit a few coins. He and I had a brief, friendly chat about submitting, expectations for grades and turnaround times. From there on out, despite the fact I only submitted to NGC once or twice a year (always dropping off at Baltimore), he would remember me and we'd touch base while I filled out my forms for them. In more recent years, I only dropped subs off, but he still remembered me. The last time I saw him, he thanked me for ordering one of his books off his eBay. I admitted I had no idea it was his personal eBay account until after I received it and noticed the return address, and we laughed at my obliviousness.
Great numismatist, greater person. My condolences to his friends and family.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
David W. Lange, noted numismatist, die variety expert, and lifelong fan of collecting coin boards, has passed away after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.
David had served as director of research for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) since 1994, writing much of the company’s coin-related content over the course of his nearly 30-year tenure. His contributions to the company include the development of NGC’s VarietyPlus® program as well as the development of the NGC Photo Proof® service.
David began collecting in 1964. He was drawn to Lincoln cents and Buffalo nickels and sought them out by date and mintmark in order to fill the coin boards that his mother had purchased for him and his older brother.
Even as his experience grew, David never lost his connection to his earliest days in the hobby or the appeal of coin boards. He became the leading figure in the study of coin boards and albums, writing a number of books on the subject, and publishing a quarterly newsletter called Coin Board News.
This is a great tribute and an enjoyable/informative read by Dennis Tucker from Coin Update, with several fun photos of David (young and current)!
David W. Lange, longtime Whitman Publishing author, has left the hobby community after a rich life devoted to numismatics. He died on Monday, January 16, 2023, after cancer slowly took his health and energy over the preceding months.
Dave was the author of nearly a dozen books and hundreds of articles on United States coinage and related subjects. For many years he was an instructor at the American Numismatic Association’s Summer Seminar, focusing in particular on collecting type coins. He was a columnist for the ANA’s monthly magazine, The Numismatist, since 1988. In 2009 he received the Association’s “Lifetime Achievement” award, and in 2017 was recognized as “Numismatist of the Year.” In 2021 Coin World named him one of the sixty most influential people in numismatics since 1960.
I met Dave Lange shortly after joining Whitman Publishing in 2004. By that time, he’d been Director of Research for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation in Sarasota, Florida, for ten years. In that role, he was responsible for die-variety attribution, counterfeit detection, research, and writing, and for maintaining NGC’s coin census report and Certified Collectors Registry. He was a regular on the show circuit—a friendly and enthusiastic researcher and collector.
One of the earliest projects we worked on together was the publication of his History of the United States Mint and Its Coinage (2005), which, in an informal polling of Amazon.com independent booksellers, ranked #182 among the “Books Everyone Should Read Before College.” That same year, we published his Guide Book of Modern United States Proof Coin Sets, volume 4 in the Bowers Series.
The photos and rest of the article can be found here:
David was a good friend. We were the same age and went to all the same major shows over the past 30 years where we enjoyed catching up and talking coins at the shows. His input on things like 1856 Flying Eagle cents was always well thought out and honest. So sorry to see him go
I never knew Dave well, but of all our interactions (or my seeing him from afar) I remember he was always smiling and enthusiastic. A few months ago I had a few coin boards for sale on eBay, and Dave bought them. I rarely write notes on packing slips, but I was genuinely happy to see them go to a place where I imagined they'd be as appreciated as can be, and wrote a quick note to say so. He was a legend and will be missed.
So many people dying relatively young lately. I would encourage people who think they can do this or that after they retire to do it now while you can, tomorrow is never guaranteed!
Very sorry to hear of Dave's passing. This is definitely a loss to the community, as Dave was kind, smart and supportive of the hobby. Prayers and condolences to his loved ones. RIP.
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
Comments
just quoting this post as several seem to not have seen it. thanks shamika
That was in October. Mark Feld posted this morning.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
good grief. thanks for the update john.
so sorry to hear.
Terrible news. I will always remember our conversations. One of the nicest guys out there.
Sincerest condolences! He will surely be missed in the numismatic world!
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My condolences and prayers to his family. I had just talked to him in October about first edition Whitman folders and he told me he had ceased selling all of his inventory. He said he had health issues, but at that time said that it wasn’t too serious. Guess he was being brave. I didn’t know at the time how ill he was. Nice man. Rest In Peace David.
This news has really upset me.
He was a fine gentleman and a credit to the industry and the hobby.
I pray for his family and that he rests in peace.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
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--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.Very sorry to hear this. 😞
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Why is it that people like Dave are taken way too early? I have the biggest respect for him. He took the hobby into a direction that I loved. The pinpoint breakdown and comments on everything from strike to small nuances on various coins and minting practices were his forte.
And I loved it and ate it all up.
Too many collectors have gone. Nothing is the same as it once was........................
Pete
Sad news.
Regardless, thanks for sharing it.
Terrible News
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Thank you for sharing this very sad update, Mark.
RIP, Dave.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
What a wonderful, funny gentleman. Rest in peace, Dave, and may God Bless You.
Dave
RIP David Lange. You will not be forgotten.
His memory will live on through his many contributions to the hobby.
Rest easy, Dave.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
I am deeply saddened by this. He was a true numismatist and, I am honored to say, a friend.
Sincerest condolences to friends and family. RIP
This is very sad news. David Lange was a superb numismatist and a fine person. He will be missed.
My deepest condolences to his family and many friends.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
I’m am upset over this news. I have high respect for this man and what he has contributed to the coin community.
He will be in my prayers.
This is sooo sad. He was one of the great numismatists of our time. So much knowledge and always willing to share it.
He will be greatly missed.
My condolences to his family.
RIP Dave
Life member of ANA
What a shame, the good die young and way too early. I emailed him and wondered why I never got a reply back, now I know.
He was an absolute asset to the hobby in every way. Wish I got to know him better.
My condolences to his family.
He was a nice guy.
I just heard this news from Mark Borchardt about an hour ago. What a horrible loss. He was only 64 years old.
My wife and I knew Dave Lange from our time as members of the New Jersey Numismatic Society and from our more active days travelling to shows and seminars. He was of valuable help to me on many coin collector board and vintage album projects. On behalf of me, my wife, and my daughters who met him in the past, our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
When I collected Buffalo nickels, his book was the finest of the various guides to the series. I thought so much of his writing that I ended up buying his books on Mercury dimes and Lincoln cents even though I had little intention of collecting those series.
Very sad news.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
RIP to a legend
His guidebook to Lincoln cent is almost a daily reference for me
Gone too soon
You are so right. And spot on. I spent hours going from coin to coin (and more than once) in his Buff and Lincoln books. He is where I learned a whole lot about individual coins and the idiosyncrasies of producing them by date.
Gosh, this is real real bad news.
Reminds me of a line in a song" "Good Time Charlie's got the blues".
Pete
I am very sorry to hear of David's passing. We had conversations about early half dollar attribution, he was always very helpful.
Not enough people like Dave in this hobby.
Sad to see him go when he had so much more to contribute.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
Dave was President of the New Jersey Numismatic Society in 2000-2001 before NGC moved to Sarasota. I was his Treasurer for part of that time.
He used to be so enthusiastic about US-Philippine coins before the prices escalated. He would give talks and promote them at every opportunity. This probably helped lead to the price runup which unfortunately drove him to get out. I bought all his Philippine auction catalogs when he moved to FL.
Fun times!
Rest in Peace my friend.
Sorry to hear this. I loved his books on Mercs Dimes and Buffalo Nickels. Well written and used a LOT by me back in the 90s.
....RIP David.
jom
Another numismatic legend has left us. RIP, Mr. Lange
I never met Mr. Lange, but somewhat remarkably obtained two of his books only very recently - on Buffalo nickels late last year and on Mercury dimes just last week. I haven't actively collected either series for years, but found myself entranced by his writing and simply couldn't put the books down!
Put simply, he was flat out a terrific writer, engaging, accurate, concise and entertaining. His skills will be missed. And, it sounds from the many preceding posts in this thread, his personality, decency and humanity will be as well.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Wow, sad news. A young man by my standards. Condolences to all who knew and loved David.
That is very sad news - he was a class act. Thanks for letting us know.
My condolences to his friends and family
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Terribly sad. Our hobby has lost a great statesman. He will be sorely missed.
Lance.
The Penny Lady®
The first time I met David, I was just an idiot wandering the bourse and wanted to submit a few coins. He and I had a brief, friendly chat about submitting, expectations for grades and turnaround times. From there on out, despite the fact I only submitted to NGC once or twice a year (always dropping off at Baltimore), he would remember me and we'd touch base while I filled out my forms for them. In more recent years, I only dropped subs off, but he still remembered me. The last time I saw him, he thanked me for ordering one of his books off his eBay. I admitted I had no idea it was his personal eBay account until after I received it and noticed the return address, and we laughed at my obliviousness.
Great numismatist, greater person. My condolences to his friends and family.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
Very, very sad news!
Tom
Coin Week obituary for David W. Lange.
RIP 🌹
David W. Lange, noted numismatist, die variety expert, and lifelong fan of collecting coin boards, has passed away after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.
David had served as director of research for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) since 1994, writing much of the company’s coin-related content over the course of his nearly 30-year tenure. His contributions to the company include the development of NGC’s VarietyPlus® program as well as the development of the NGC Photo Proof® service.
David began collecting in 1964. He was drawn to Lincoln cents and Buffalo nickels and sought them out by date and mintmark in order to fill the coin boards that his mother had purchased for him and his older brother.
Even as his experience grew, David never lost his connection to his earliest days in the hobby or the appeal of coin boards. He became the leading figure in the study of coin boards and albums, writing a number of books on the subject, and publishing a quarterly newsletter called Coin Board News.
Continued in link................ https://coinweek.com/people-in-the-news/in-memoriam/numismatist-david-w-lange-has-passed-away/
This is a great tribute and an enjoyable/informative read by Dennis Tucker from Coin Update, with several fun photos of David (young and current)!
David W. Lange, longtime Whitman Publishing author, has left the hobby community after a rich life devoted to numismatics. He died on Monday, January 16, 2023, after cancer slowly took his health and energy over the preceding months.
Dave was the author of nearly a dozen books and hundreds of articles on United States coinage and related subjects. For many years he was an instructor at the American Numismatic Association’s Summer Seminar, focusing in particular on collecting type coins. He was a columnist for the ANA’s monthly magazine, The Numismatist, since 1988. In 2009 he received the Association’s “Lifetime Achievement” award, and in 2017 was recognized as “Numismatist of the Year.” In 2021 Coin World named him one of the sixty most influential people in numismatics since 1960.
I met Dave Lange shortly after joining Whitman Publishing in 2004. By that time, he’d been Director of Research for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation in Sarasota, Florida, for ten years. In that role, he was responsible for die-variety attribution, counterfeit detection, research, and writing, and for maintaining NGC’s coin census report and Certified Collectors Registry. He was a regular on the show circuit—a friendly and enthusiastic researcher and collector.
One of the earliest projects we worked on together was the publication of his History of the United States Mint and Its Coinage (2005), which, in an informal polling of Amazon.com independent booksellers, ranked #182 among the “Books Everyone Should Read Before College.” That same year, we published his Guide Book of Modern United States Proof Coin Sets, volume 4 in the Bowers Series.
The photos and rest of the article can be found here:
news.coinupdate.com/remembering-david-w-lange-1958-2023/?fbclid=IwAR34jy8Jh2pQPn5K_YgoHfs7gR70ZU-KhvvS_oq1kNQ75alf_R-NcJK6xTs
The Penny Lady®
David was a good friend. We were the same age and went to all the same major shows over the past 30 years where we enjoyed catching up and talking coins at the shows. His input on things like 1856 Flying Eagle cents was always well thought out and honest. So sorry to see him go
Condolences about DL. It is a great loss.
On a side note, I was also concerned by this post, especially since he has not logged in since December 11.
Send us some good news, @Oldhoopster .
Sad news for sure.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Donato
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I never knew Dave well, but of all our interactions (or my seeing him from afar) I remember he was always smiling and enthusiastic. A few months ago I had a few coin boards for sale on eBay, and Dave bought them. I rarely write notes on packing slips, but I was genuinely happy to see them go to a place where I imagined they'd be as appreciated as can be, and wrote a quick note to say so. He was a legend and will be missed.
He will be badly missed at the shows, NGC and with many others. My condolences to his family.
So many people dying relatively young lately. I would encourage people who think they can do this or that after they retire to do it now while you can, tomorrow is never guaranteed!
Very sorry to hear of Dave's passing. This is definitely a loss to the community, as Dave was kind, smart and supportive of the hobby. Prayers and condolences to his loved ones. RIP.
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.