After more than seven decades in numismatics, Q. David Bowers well deserves his retirement from the firm that bears his name, Stack’s Bowers Galleries announces.

Since the 1950s, numismatics has benefited immensely from Bowers’s unsurpassed expertise, deep passion and enthusiastic involvement in the coin hobby.

Brian Kendrella, Stack’s Bowers Galleries president, stated: “Dave has greatly impacted numismatics over the past seven decades and will continue to do so for many years to come. He has been a wonderful mentor to many of us, and his leadership and guidance have been invaluable. We wish Dave the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

Greg Roberts, Stack’s Bowers Galleries CEO, said, “Dave has been a colleague and mentor to me for over 40 years. He is a true numismatic genius and friend.  I wish him the very best in this next chapter.”

Bowers became interested in numismatics as a teenager in 1953 collecting Lincoln cents and putting them in a Whitman folder. Soon his interests widened, and he expanded his collection, earning money to pay for it by becoming a “vest pocket dealer” in 1954. In 1955, he attended his first American Numismatic Association convention and issued his first printed catalog with coins illustrated and for sale. This set the trend for hundreds of other publications to come. In 1957, he formed the Rittenhouse Society with others interested in research — Eric P. Newman, Ken Rendell, Dick Johnson, Walter Breen, Ken Bressett, and George Fuld.

“Even though it has been my job for over 70 years, I have truly felt that I have never worked a day in my life. It has given me great joy to have served many clubs and professional organizations and to have written countless books and columns that shared my love for this great pursuit,” remarked Bowers. “Even for someone who enjoys writing as much as I do and has rarely been at a loss for words, it is difficult to express how much I’ve loved every minute of it.”

In 1964, Bowers published his first book, Coins and Collectors. This set the stage for over 70 books he would write. Along the way, he won more “Book of the Year” awards given by the Numismatic Literary Guild than has any other author to date. He penned a weekly column in Coin World, eventually known as  “The Joys of Collecting,” for six decades, ending it in 2021.

He supervised the handling of many important collections, as well as the research, writing, and production of the catalogs presenting them, again earning more awards and distinctions such as “Catalog of the Year” than has any other. Bowers has always been passionate about all facets of bringing a collection to market, from numismatic writing and research through marketing and final presentation and even as auctioneer on the podium.

Aside from his successful business ventures, Bowers served as president of the Professional Numismatist Guild from 1977 to 1979 and as president of the American Numismatic Association from 1983 through 1985. He was a numismatic director for Whitman Publications LLC and the research editor for The Guide Book of United States Coins.

Additionally, Bowers served as selectman for his adopted hometown of Wolfeboro,
New Hampshire, from 2010 through 2021 and wrote and published three volumes of the History of Wolfeboro.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the many friends who made up our staff over the years,” commented Dave. “Some have unfortunately passed away, but many are still carrying the numismatic torch at Stack’s Bowers Galleries. My hope is that my enthusiasm has been contagious, and they are enjoying this work as much as I did. I am forever grateful for their work ethic, friendship and camaraderie.”

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