41st Director of the U.S. Mint

On December 18, the U.S. Senate confirmed Paul Hollis as the 41st Director of the United States Mint, marking the first time a longtime numismatist has held the position. He was nominated in July and his confirmation hearing was held on October 30. He will serve a five-year term.

Hollis has been collecting coins since he was six and later became the youngest salesperson at Blanchard and Company of New Orleans, one of the nation’s largest rare-coin and precious-metals firms, where he worked until 2001. In 2003 he founded Paul Hollis Rare Coins, which provided collectible coins to television home shopping networks based in Tennessee and Minnesota.

Hollis was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served the 104th District from 2012 through 2024. He served on multiple committees and advanced legislation to reform recall elections before leaving office in January 2024.

Hollis replaces Ventris C. Gibson, who stepped down earlier this year, and will be responsible for overseeing the U.S. Mint’s circulating coinage, bullion programs, and numismatic products.