David Walter Lange

David W. Lange (1958–2023) was a highly respected numismatist, author, and researcher who made significant contributions to the field of coin collecting. Serving as the Director of Research for Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) from 1994 until his passing, Lange was instrumental in developing NGC's VarietyPlus® variety attribution program and the NGC Photo Proof® service.

Throughout his career, Lange authored nearly a dozen books and hundreds of articles on United States coinage and related subjects. His notable works include "The Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels" (1992), "The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes" (1993), "The Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents" (1996), and "History of the United States Mint and Its Coinage" (2005). He also co-authored the "NGC Grading Guide for Modern U.S. Coins" with NGC President Rick Montgomery in 2004.

Lange was an active member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) since 1978, contributing a regular column titled "USA Coin Album" to The Numismatist magazine from 1988 onwards. He also taught courses at the ANA's annual Summer Seminar, focusing on collecting type coins. In recognition of his extensive contributions, Lange received the ANA's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 and was honored as Numismatist of the Year in 2017.

He also served as president of several numismatic organizations, including the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society, the California State Numismatic Association, and the New Jersey Numismatic Society.