DAVID L. GANZ (1951-2025)

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 21, 2025, Article 6

Paul Whitnah passed along word of the passing of ANA Past President David Ganz. Thank you. Here is the announcement distributed to members of the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG). Born July 28, 1951, he died May 20, 2025. -Editor

David L. Ganz a practicing attorney in New York and New Jersey, who served four terms as ranking (majority) member of the Bergen County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders, has died at 73 after a long battle with Parkinson's. He died peacefully in his sleep the morning of May 20th, according to his wife, Kathy.

Ganz also served seven consecutive one-year terms as Mayor of Fair Lawn, a borough whose population of more than 32,000 is 18th highest among New Jersey's 573 municipalities.

Ganz is the author of many books including Planning Your Rare Coin Retirement (1998); The Official Guide to U.S. Commemorative Coins (1999); The Smithsonian Guide to Coin Collecting (2008); Profitable Coin Collecting (2008); The Official Guide to State Quarters (2000); America's State Quarters (2008) and Small Claims Court Defense (2012). He was named a Numismatic Ambassador by Krause Publications in 2006.

From 1993 to 1995, Ganz was president of the Congressionally-chartered American Numismatic Association (ANA). In 1995, U.S. president Bill Clinton appointed him to the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee, where along with Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) he was credited with proposing the 50-State Quarters program, which earned $7 billion for American taxpayers over a 10-year period.

Ganz also served on the board of the Token and Medal Society, 1981 to 2006, and as its president, 2004 to 2006. He was a Life Fellow of the American Numismatic Society and had served on the board of directors for the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA). Ganz received the James U. Blanchard Lifetime Achievement Award from ICTA in 2009.

Throughout periods of his professional life, Ganz served in many legal-related capacities, including as an advisor to the ANA, ICTA, Professional Numismatists Guild and Numismatic Literary Guild.

Since 1965, he contributed more than 3,000 articles to various publications, with many of those articles focusing on numismatic-related topics and a number of them garnering prestigious literary awards.

David L. Ganz, former Fair Lawn mayor and a longtime member of the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, has died, the borough announced May 20.

His death was announced by the borough in a post on Facebook, which described Ganz as a "devoted public servant, community leader, and esteemed resident whose legacy has left a lasting imprint on Fair Lawn and beyond."

Ganz served as the 29th mayor of Fair Lawn. He was first elected to the Borough Council in 1997 and served five consecutive terms as mayor beginning in 1999. He also served on the Fair Lawn Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Outside of his service to Bergen County, Ganz was an attorney, author and numismatic expert. His legal career, during which he practiced with Ganz and Sivin, L.L.P., and Ganz and Hollinger, P.C., spanned litigation, municipal law, land use and guardianship.

He published numerous legal articles and books, including works on coin collecting and United States coinage legislation. His efforts helped establish the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters program, according to the borough's post. He previously served as the president of the American Numismatic Association, advising national and international coin programs.

"David L. Ganz was a dedicated public servant, a brilliant legal mind, a nationally respected expert in coin collecting, and most importantly - a kind and decent man who gave so much of himself to the people of Bergen County," said Tedesco. "David had an encyclopedic knowledge of government and New Jersey politics. He could quote statutes, recall budgets from memory, and go line-by-line through the most complicated financial documents - always with clarity and purpose."

Born in New York City. Received B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University in 1973 and J.D. from St. John's University Law School in 1976. He has done postgraduate study at New York University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in New York in 1977, D.C. in 1980, New Jersey in 1985.

Since 1981 he has been a member of the law firm of Ganz, Hollinger & Towe; renamed Ganz & Hollinger. Also a member of Ganz & Sivin, LLP. In Fair Lawn after 1985. He has specialized in the law relating to numismatics. He served as counsel at various times for Bowers & Ruddy Galleries, Numismatic Fine Arts, Stacks, and the four firms involved with the "Apostrophe" sales. He serves as general counsel for the Professional Numismatists Guild, the Numismatic Literary Guild and the Token & Medal Society. He was Legislative Counsel for the ANA 1978 to 1981 and continued 1983 to 1995.

He was elected to the ANA board of governors and served 1985 to 1991; vice president 1991-93; elected president serving 1993 to 1995. Served on the Board of TAMS 1981 to 2006 and as president 2004 to 2006. Life 4. Fellow of the ANS, Associate Member 1974-1985, Fellow 1985 to 1992.

He has served on the board of directors for the Industry Council for Tangible Assets after 1983. Received James U. Blanchard Lifetime Achievement Award from ICTA 2009. Director of The Coalition for Equitable Regulation & Taxation.

He served on the Assay Commission for 1974. He was a consultant to the Subcommittee on Historic Preservation & Coinage of the House Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs. He was a consultant for the Canadian Olympic Coin Program, FAO coin program, Moscow Olympic coin program and the Statue of Liberty coin program. Appointed by Act of Congress to the design panel for 1992 James Madison – Bill of Rights Coin and 1996 Olympic Coinage. Founding member of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and served 1993 to 1996. While on the committee he was a strong advocate for the 50 states quarter program.

Since 1965 he has contributed more than 3000 articles to various publications. Many were on numismatic topics. He was on the editorial staff of Numismatic News. Contributed "Under the Glass" to The Coin Shopper in 1965, then in Coin Collector in 1967 and to NN 1969-1975. He was Washington correspondent from November 1969 to May 1973. Editor of an ANA publication The Young Numismatist 1971-1974. Author of 14 Bits, the story of the Bicentennial coinage, in 1976. He contributed the "Backgrounder" column to Coin World in after February 16, 1977.

Author of The World of Coins and Coin Collecting issued in 1980 at $19.95. His articles have appeared in COINS magazine, COINage magazine, Coin World and The Numismatist. Ganz was editor of "Numismatics and the Law" in Coin World Almanac, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th editions.

In 1990 Ganz won the NLG Clemy Award for his contributions. In 1991 he became editor of the NLG Newsletter and served until 1996. His "Under the Glass" column resumed in Numismatic News September 10, 1996. He wrote "Coin Market Insider's Report for COINage Magazine 1974 to 2010.

Author of Planning Your Rare Coin Retirement (1998); The Official Guide to U.S. Commemorative Coins (1999); Smithsonian Guide to Coin Collecting (2008); Profitable Coin Collecting (2008); Official Guide to State Quarters (2000) and America's State Quarters (2008).

"Sad to hear about the passing of David Ganz. Years ago, I purchased a vintage pair of civilian medal hub dies dating from WWII. The seller said he was cleaning out a GSA government warehouse (remember them? The Carson City dollar people!) back in the 1980's and found them. He liked them and his supervisor said to go ahead and keep them. Soon after I bought them I had the nagging feeling that perhaps I shouldn't be owning them. I know the only person who could answer this would be David Ganz. I contacted David and within days he answered back that anything that was ever the property of the U.S. Government was still their property, unless you had a clear receipt of sale.

"I was impressed with David's knowledge of legal matters (he was, after all, THE prominent legal mind for numismatic matters) and how gracious his response was. But most of all, it was the only time I ever got legal advice from an attorney and didn't receive a bill! He is already missed."

My own interactions with David over the years have also been good ones. He was an early E-Sylum subscriber and an occasional contributor. I was honored to receive the ANA Presidential Award under his tenure in August 1995. His 14 Bits mongraph on the U.S. bicentennial coinage is one of my favorites, going behind the scenes of the creation of these iconic designs. -Editor