Hollis’s Hearing

On October 30,  the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a hearing to examine the presidential nominees for several federal positions, including Paul Hollis for U.S. Mint director. If confirmed, Hollis will become the first longtime numismatist to lead the mint.

With 30 years of experience as a professional numismatist and 14 years in public office, Hollis’s name is well-known in the collecting community. Many hobbyists are fans of his award-winning book on the history of U.S. coinage, American Numismatist, published in 2011. “I’ve spent a lifetime preparing for the role of director of the United States Mint,” Hollis told the assembled senators.

Hollis has been collecting since childhood and fondly recounted a memory of his grandmother giving him a coin she’d saved during the Great Depression. “That small gesture left a lasting impression that quietly steered the course of my life,” he said. “While my classmates would give oral reports on Babe Ruth and Amelia Earhart, I would speak about David Rittenhouse, the first director of the United States Mint back in 1792.”

As a devoted public servant who is knowledgeable about all facets of coinage, he spoke thoughtfully about the meaning of money: “Our nation’s coinage is far more than just metal—our coins encapsulate America’s history. Every coin carries with it a thoughtfully crafted design that is rooted in our shared heritage.”

Hollis expertly fielded questions on hot topics, including the U.S. semiquincentennial coinage, the prohibition of portraits of living people on coins, and the Harriet Tubman $20 note. Regarding the proposed Trump coinage, Hollis repeatedly assured the committee that he is devoted to upholding the law, and as for the Tubman issues, he deferred the matter to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which handles paper money. 

“I am confident I can lead the United States Mint through this exciting and vital time in our nation’s history,” Hollis said. “If confirmed, I would be truly honored to serve.”