On October 30, 2025, Paul Hollis — a passionate coin collector, respected dealer, acclaimed author, and former Louisiana state legislator — appeared before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs as President Trump’s nominee to become the 41st Director of the United States Mint.
If confirmed by the full Senate, the 53-year-old Hollis would be the first longtime professional numismatist to lead the Mint in its 233-year history. Nominated on July 16, 2025, Hollis would serve a five-year term, succeeding Acting Director Kristie McNally, who has guided the bureau since Ventris Gibson stepped down in March 2025 at President Trump’s request.
Hollis brings an extraordinary blend of hobby expertise and public-service experience. A collector since age seven, he shared a moving personal story during the hearing: his grandmother gave him a coin she had safeguarded through the Great Depression. “That small gesture left a lasting impression that quietly steered the course of my life,” Hollis testified. “Today, I keep the coin that she gave me nearly a half-century ago as a tribute to her.” He still carries that same coin in his pocket during life’s major moments.
Professionally, Hollis has more than 30 years of experience as a numismatist and authored the award-winning 2011 book American Numismatist for the American Numismatic Association, tracing the rich parallels between U.S. history and its coinage. From 2012 to 2024 he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, and at the time of his nomination he was a member of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The hearing touched on several issues of keen interest to collectors:
- 2026 Semiquincentennial Coin Program – Hollis will oversee the major circulating-coin redesign celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, along with the “Best of the Mint” archival re-issues.
- Proposed Trump $1 Coin – Senators Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) raised concerns about reports of a possible circulating dollar bearing President Trump’s likeness, noting existing law prohibits living persons on U.S. coinage to avoid any monarchical appearance. Hollis assured the committee he would strictly follow the law and consult appropriate legal authorities.
- Harriet Tubman $20 Note – When asked, Hollis correctly deferred the matter to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which handles paper currency.
Throughout the questioning, Hollis emphasized that “our nation’s coinage is far more than just metal — our coins encapsulate America’s history” and expressed confidence in leading the Mint “through this exciting and vital time in our nation’s history.”
Collectors across the country are watching the confirmation process with great interest. A Senate vote has not yet been scheduled, but many in the hobby are hopeful that a fellow numismatist deeply committed to both history and the law will soon take the helm at the United States Mint.
Sources:
Paul Gilkes, “Mint Director nominee Hollis appears at hearing,” Coin World, November 19, 2025
Olivia McCommons, “Hollis’s Hearing,” The Reading Room, November 11, 2025