Who Was David W. Lange? In Memoriam

David W. Lange was a numismatist, author, and researcher who made significant contributions to the field of coin collecting and numismatics. He was born in 1958 and passed away in 2023 due to a long battle with cancer.

Lange was best known for his work on United States coinage, particularly his books on the Barber coinage and the Mercury dime. His book, "The Complete Guide to Barber Dimes," is considered a seminal work on the subject and is still widely used by collectors today. He also wrote several other books on various coin series, including "The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Dimes" and "The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes."

In addition to his books, Lange was also a regular contributor to numismatic publications, including Coin World and The Numismatist. He was a frequent speaker at numismatic conventions and seminars, and was highly respected in the field for his knowledge and research on coinage.

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.

Lange was also actively involved in the numismatic community. He was a member of several coin collecting organizations, including the American Numismatic Association and the Liberty Seated Collectors Club. He also served as an officer and board member for several of these organizations, and was recognized for his contributions with several awards and honors.

David Lange's legacy continues to be felt in the numismatic world. His books and research are still widely read and referenced today and his passion for coin collecting helped to inspire many new collectors. He will always be remembered as one of the most important figures in the field of numismatics.