U.S. Mint Director Rumors
The rumors have been flying fast and furious ever since Election Day: Who will be the next Director of the United States Mint?
The U.S. Mint Director's job is a political appointment, and most such positions traditionally change hands when a new president is elected. There has been some confusion among the members of the coin collecting community about whether the current U.S. Mint Director, Ed Moy, would have to automatically tender his resignation effective Jan. 20, 2009 (Inauguration Day). Some insiders insist that Moy should resign because Mint Directors have supposedly always done so, but others, including my sources in the U.S. Mint Office of Public Affairs, believe that Moy's appointment is for five years, and unless the president asks him to resign, Moy's offer to do so is not automatically assumed. (Moy's term of office isn't due to expire until August 27, 2011.)
If Barack Obama does nothing about the Director of the U.S. Mint position, Moy will retain it. However, it is widely expected that Obama will appoint his own Director. Who would he appoint? The name that comes up most often is someone in our midst: Reed Hawn. Hawn is a Texas oil gazillionaire and lifelong coin collector who has owned some of the rarest and most valuable coins there are, such as a 1913 Liberty Nickel and an 1804 Silver Dollar. He has been active in the collecting community for many years, serving as a charter member of the original Citizen's Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee (CCCAC), the committee which was formed to vet proposed commemorative coin designs and offer input to the U.S. Mint and Treasury Department about which designs should see the light of day. More importantly, Hawn is very well politically connected with the Democratic Party, having been a longtime Obama supporter who has raised significant money for Obama and other Democratic candidates. Some say the Mint Director's job is Hawn's for the asking. Hawn's take on this? He says he'd be honored to serve the nation in whatever capacity he may be called upon to do so, but as far as any particular position goes at this point, "no comment."
Another name that has frequently been proposed as Moy's replacement is David Ganz. Ganz, too, is a lifelong collector with Democratic political connections. He has authored at least a half-dozen coin collecting books, (including his most recent, America's State Quarters), and served our hobby in numerous ways, including a term as President of the American Numismatic Association (ANA). Ganz was also a charter member of the CCCAC and served two terms on that committee, during which he was the primary proponent of what became the State Quarter program. In fact, Ganz is often referred to as the "Father of the Statehood Quarter program," an appellation he is quick to shrug aside, stating that there are several unsung heroes without whom the State Quarters would probably never have become a reality. All of these accomplishments have resulted in Ganz's name being bandied about as the possible next U.S. Mint Director. When I asked Ganz if he would accept the position if it was offered to him, he replied that his vote would go to Reed Hawn!
Other Possible Candidates for U.S. Mint Director
Some of the possible contenders whose names haven't been quite so widely debated include:
- Christopher Cipoletti - Former ANA Executive Director with good knowledge of the coin collecting hobby; spent much of his career as an attorney. Very long-shot candidate.
- David Hall - PCGS founder and CEO; Hall's name comes up any time people are speculating about top numismatic positions. Extremely unlikely candidate for this one.
- Jim Halperin - Heritage Auction Galleries founder and CEO; Another top name that often comes up. Also extremely unlikely.
- Leon Hendrickson - Founder and CEO of SilverTowne; Knows the bullion market and how to run a mint. A dream choice, perhaps, but his business is probably an insurmountable conflict of interest.
What qualifications does the new U.S. Mint Director need to have? Scott at the Coin Collector's Blog posted an open letter to the President-Elect with his ideas.
Who would you like to see in the U.S. Mint Director position? Vote in my fun poll, or nominate your favorite candidate in the comments section below.
Comments
I, as most Americans, realize the dire state of our U.S. Treasury, however, the mark-up imposed on coin set prices is not the answer toward reducing our national debt.
This is one area I would like the new director to review overall. Another is duplicity in coin set selection. I understand the marketing theory regarding diverse selection of products for consumers to choose from, but when you couple this with the high mark-up cost put on these sets, it goes a bit overboard. I’m all for the Mint to garner a fair profit on the products sold but being reasonable in their pricing along with consolodating some of the coin sets would in my humble opinion improve overall sales, not hinder them.
I also want to convey my best wishes to the new director, whoever is appointed, on having a productive and enjoyable tour of duty.
Mr. Moy seems like a very intelligent man. Although i do not know him personally, i believe he has done a favorable job running the mint. And wish him more years of uninterupted service.
In the case that director Moy has to be replaced. Then i nominate my self for dirctorship. And my friend the yankee, as codirector. We will be at your service. We will get the job done. Free shipping for all. 15% markups across the board, on all products. Thank you!
The director of the US Mint should be someone who is more fluent in the operations of a manufacturing facility and supply chain management than a collector. No offense to collectors, which I am, but I would rather see someone who could ensure that coins, specifically bullion, could be delivered to meet market demand. The associate director, who’s a career position, should be a collector to balance out the position. Unfortunately, the current associate director’s previous experiences were in the sewers of suburban Maryland (he was director of the Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission).
For my thoughts on a new director, you are invited to read my open letter to President-elect Obama.
December 5, 2008
Letter to the Editor Coin World
Re: Next U. S. Mint Director
With the new Obama Administration taking office in January, we would like to see the Honorable Jay W. Johnson be considered and appointed for the U. S. Mint Director position. Under the Clinton Administration he did a commendable job as the 36th U. S. Mint Director, serving from 2000 to 2001. He also served as a Democratic U. S. Congressman from Wisconsin from 1997 to 1999. Mr. Johnson would bring a great working knowledge of the Director job and also the Halls of Congress. He is a friend of the American Numismatic Association and knows many of the members of that Association. Mr. Johnson also knows the Numismatic Hobby, the U. S. Coinage and its history, and could hit the ground running. Mr. Johnson wouldn’t need “a Break in” period. We can think of no one as qualified as the Honorable Jay W. Johnson for this important position and recommend him highly for the job of Director of the U. S. Mint. Please go to the below site for more information on Mr. Johnson. Sincerely, John and Nancy Wilson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_W._Johnson
If director Moy gets replaced. Does this mean their not going to answer our 10 questions now?
coiny
Coiny, Don’t worry about the 10 questions; an executive in the Mint’s press office is helping with those. They’ll be answered regardless of who the director is (although depending who we get for the new director, collectors might benefit from more liberal press office policies where answers about all kinds of things are improved, relations with the collector community improve, and promises that are made are kept. This is one of the reasons I am involved in behind-the-scenes lobbying for who might become the next Mint Director; Mint relations with the hobby community, especially the hobby’s numismatic press, are definitely not at 21st century standards. I would like to see the artists who design and sculpt the coins get more recognition for their work, and my biggest pet peeve, the Mint’s usage of the term “Uncirculated” to describe coins which have a “Satin Finish” or are “burnished” (such as coins in the so-called “Uncirculated Mint Sets” or certain W-Mint coins,) which demonstrates such a total disregard for our hobby’s traditions and nomenclature that I don’t know whether getting involved in this lobbying will help or not, but if it does, and we can get someone from the hobby into that Director’s chair, maybe a lot of things could get better for collectors.)
Susan
Thank you Sue!
Would you accept the post if you were nomitated? I think that would be great! Whattaya think??
coiny
LOL Coiny! If I was 25 years younger, I would probably have jumped at the opportunity (heck, I took a GS-14 position at JPL when I was 23 in an incredibly audacious case of overestimating my abilities, but I didn’t do half-badly, either, in those heady days of Reagan’s SDI program.) But at 49 I am enough of a realist to know that I lack some of the essential qualities we need in our Mint Director right now, and in the extremely unlikely case the position was offered to me, I would take the opportunity to explain to the person offering the job why I was turning it down, and what qualities and experience the successful candidate should have.
I have thought about maybe applying for a seat on the Citizen’s Coin Advisory Committee or maybe even running for a seat on the ANA board, but probably not this time around. I have too much I want to get done on my Web site first. =)
Susan
I think part of the problems being created at the mint are directly related to the political involvement of the director. The director needs 3 main qualifications:
1) Someone who has a well rounded knowledge of the coin world both practical & collecting.
2) Someone who has plenty of experience in manufacturing & production management.
3) Someone who has a high regard for quality control & product distribution.
Selecting the proper person should be done on an experience level (see above) & not because of any particular political agenda or criteria.
Reckon we’ll soon see what they decide.
Knowledge or Politics?
Hi Yank! I have a feeling, the mint works with the barest of people they can afford to pay. Since they are, a for profit manufacturing coin agency, it is the bottom line that is the all importent ending to their yearly production. The more they earn, the brighter the treasury shines. The happier congress is. It’s a vicious circle. If they were “just” a normal not for profit government agency, they’ed have to spend more money every year to get their budgets upgraded for the following year. Regardless of the amount of waste they have to produce to get their operating budgets increased. So we seem to be paying at both ends. Regardless of political afiliations. Throw away the profit makeing angle from the mint. We would see more money infussions into the mint, and the proper man power to go with it. Of course we would need our taxes raised in order to do that. So really — what are the answers?
Respectfuly yours!
coiny
Hey there Coiny!
I agree with ya, however hiring someone with the proper credentials vs. filling the seat with some bozo senator just because the Prez has an opening and wants ta look good for one of his buddies shouldn’t cost any more and the benefits would be far greater in the long run for all concerned.
OH & don’t hire anyone connected to the auto industry, either. It’s obvious they can’t run a productive, profitable organization.
Just another opinion . . .
FOR MINT DIRECTOR, MY CHOICE IS RON PAUL
Many may not know about one man inparticular whom I believe to be incredibly qualified for the job of Director of the U.S. Mint. He is Roger Burdette. He has written may articles for Coin World and other pubications and won Book of the Year for the past three years from the American Numismatic Society for his series entitled, “Renaissance of American Coinage”. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Jr., has also selected Burdette to serve a four-year term on the CCAC. Burdette fills the committee position requiring “special qualifications in numismatics.” Past decisions in business and career show that Burdette does what is best for, not himself, but everyone else. With all these other millionaires and billionaires on the list for the job, Roger Burdette is a refreshing representation of a true leader and human being. The job should go to someone with true passion and intellect for coins and making the U.S. Mint run smoothly and effectively. Burdette is the one for the job.
I would like to see Miles Standish as the next US Mint Director. A Top Shelf guy and one the Worlds Top Numismatist. A true mover and shaker in the Coin Industry and also know’s the bullion Markets. Also with a strong back ground in Marketing and has Strong ties to many top elected officials. He has worked with past Presidents and past US Mint Directors.
The current director has to go. No American Eagle silver or gold proof coins for 2009. Terrible designs for upcoming and current commemoratives, incredibly stupid legislation for jumbo five ounce silver national parks quarter dollar coins. Ineffective tenture at the mint. Why is he still there?