NGC tribute to David Lange

Desert Moon

https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/11191/david-lange-memoriam/

Very nice tribute, will miss seeing David at shows.

Best, SH

braddick

This would be an exciting thread to relay stories we know personally of this wonderful numismatist.
Me, I met him twice.

The first time was at a Long Beach coin show perhaps twenty years ago. I had a lustrous powder blue 1971-D Ike I thought was a superb GEM. I purchased it from a bid board in Carlsbad a few weeks prior.
I wanted David's opinion on the coin.
After studying the coin intensely, he stated he thought it was an MS67. I did a show-day walkthrough, and sure enough, it returned MS67.
(I wonder where that beautiful coin is now as I accepted an offer that was difficult to turn down.)

Secondly was at another Long Beach coin show when I had him look at my discovery of Cheerios Sac. He was the first to look at it other than the ANACS graders who had slabbed it without knowing what it was- nor did I.
After several months of back and forth with NGC and the U.S. Mint, he returned the coin. It was labeled "Discovery" insert along with an attractive presentation fold-out with detailed color photos and a terrific write-up about the coin.
On each occasion, he was a gentleman and a true enthusiast and willingly spent time with collectors who came to the NGC table with questions or concerns, whether they dropped off a submission or not.
In many ways, that type of customer service is lacking in this day and age.
He will be genuinely missed.

coinkat

Always helpful... as well as someone who had a deep appreciation for coins and coin collecting. H e will be missed

Barndog

His knowledge, friendliness, experience, and commitment to the hobby, NGC, and his specialties (coin boards!) can't be replaced. I don't get sad with most of these kinds of announcements. But this guy was pretty special to anyone that ever met him.

MFeld

I had known David for nearly 30 years, part of that time, working with him at NGC. He was so very dedicated, enthusiastic, enjoyable, intelligent and helpful.

I had a few email exchanges with David, late last year, after I learned of his illness. And despite the extreme difficulties he was having, he was still the same extremely good-natured man that I’d come to know.

I feel very fortunate to have know him.

BuffaloIronTail

Truly heartfelt, Mark.

I would have liked to have known him.

Pete

ColoradoCoinGuy

I first met Dave when I took his class on Collecting Type Coins at the ANA Summer Seminar. His class was informative and entertaining, he really knew is stuff. I then would hang out with him at Lunar Lounge (those of you who have attended Summer Seminar know what I am referring to) and we would talk about how we got started in coin collecting as we both started about the same time and in very similiar ways. We also talked a lot about his favorite subject, Coin Boards and Folders. After that, anytime we would both be attending Summer Seminar at the same time, we would talk during meals and at the Lunar Lounge. I last spoke with Dave at the 2022 ANA spring show in Colorado Springs at the Broadmore. I feel very fortunate that I was able to get to know Dave and soak up a small amount of his vast knowledge across the Numismatic spectrum. I will miss him.

thebeav

I have never met him, but I always enjoyed his posts.
He was always willing to share his knowledge.
Rest in peace Dave.........

keyman64

I met him once at NGC HQ to discuss a coin with some others and messaged back and forth with him a few times, most recently last year. He was always willing to share his knowledge. I have one of his books, The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes 2nd Edition. There are details in the book that are not widely talked about elsewhere. He was a wonderful resource and a great person willing to share what he knew.

bsshog40

I was fortunate enough to win some of his books when NGC use to hold trivia contests back in the day! Such a great loss to the numismatic community!

ricko

Some great tributes to a fine gentleman. I hope someone alerts a relative to this thread, so the family can read how much he was liked and respected by those who knew him. Cheers, RickO

Shamika

I just found out on Friday of Dave's passing. Such a gut punch to learn. While I knew his cancer had returned, my conversations with him suggested it was a minor setback and that he would soon recover. His passion for numismatic ephemera and the history of our hobby was like no other. The hobby has lost a major contributor and I have lost a friend.