Hobby Legend Retires

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After over seven decades in the hobby, Q. David Bowers, the legendary founder of Stack’s Bowers Galleries, is retiring. Since the 1950s, numismatics has benefited immensely from Bowers’ unsurpassed expertise, deep passion, and enthusiastic involvement in the coin hobby.

“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,” Bowers says. “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.”

There is not a single collector, dealer, or numismatic organization that does not know the name Q. David Bowers or understand the significance of his career and appreciate his enormous contributions to the hobby. 

“I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the many friends who made up our staff over the years,” says Bowers. “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.” 

To contact Bowers, send a letter addressed to him at Stack’s Bowers Galleries, P.O. Box 1804, Wolfeboro, NH 03894, or send an email to ckarstedt@stacksbowers.com or abowers@stacksbowers.com.

About Q. David Bowers

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. The rest is history. In 1955 Bowers 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; the society continues with annual meetings today. 

In 1964 Bowers published his first book, Coins and Collectors, which became an overnight success and was reprinted, eventually selling tens of thousands of copies nationwide. This set the stage for over 70 books that he went on to write. Along the way, he won more “Book of the Year” awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) than any other author in history. 

Bowers supervised the handling of many important collections, as well as the research, writing, and production of the catalogs presenting them, again earning numerous awards and distinctions, including the NLG’s  Catalog of the Year. He 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 Numismatists Guild from 1977 to 1979 and as president of the ANA from 1983 to 1985. He was also a numismatic director for Whitman Publishing, LLC and the research editor for A Guide Book of United States Coins (the “Red Book”). 

Watch an ANA Legacy Series 2015 interview with Bowers: