Change at the Helm of the U.S. Mint – Gibson Resigns
Ventris C. Gibson, the 40th director of the U.S. Mint, will step down from her position on 31 March, according to various U.S. media outlets. The U.S. Mint has not yet issued an official statement, but a post by Gibson on LinkedIn confirms her resignation.
Ventris C. Gibson (on the right) with Ursula Kampmann at the 2023 ANA. Photo: CoinsWeekly
Gibson will be stepping down two years before the end of her five-year term. According to CoinWorld, this move is not at Gibson’s own request, but at the request of the U.S. President, who wants to make room for his own candidate. This is a very common move for a new administration.
Gibson has been Acting Director since 25 October 2021, and she was confirmed by the Senate in June 2022. Her role as Director of the Mint was preceded by a long career in public service, during which she held senior positions in a number of government agencies. She began her career in the U.S. Navy.
Gibson was awarded the Treasury Medal earlier this year. The award is given in recognition of outstanding achievement and leadership within the Treasury.
In 2024, Gibson also accepted the prestigious Coin of the Year Award for the U.S. Mint. The 2023 Liberty Through Perseverance $100 gold coin was named Coin of the Year and Gold Coin of the Year.
It has not yet been decided who will succeed her. Until a new Director will come in, current Deputy Director Kristie McNally will lead the U.S. Mint.
Turbulent Times
Gibson’s departure comes at a difficult time. A letter she wrote to the U.S. Mint staff was published by CoinWorld and reveals major uncertainties, likely triggered by Trump’s second presidency, which came with significant turbulences for the U.S. authorities. Among other things, Gibson wrote:
“I know the past couple of months have been challenging for us in responding to a number of requests from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Treasury, and others […] Please know that the Mint and Treasury leadership teams are doing their absolute best to comply with all of the directives while also making sure that our path forward is one of care and compassion with a constant eye on our mission. […] As of this writing, we are working continuously to address how we will leverage resources, justify the filling of vacant positions, and finding ways to ensure that we can accomplish our mission amid staffing adjustments and reductions. […] Regardless of what will happen with the ‘penny,’ visits from non-Treasury officials to our facilities, or media filming the bullion depository, we will, to the best of our ability, ensure that we keep you informed.“
Moreover, the U.S. Mint has a big task ahead of it. 4 July 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which means that the USA will celebrate its 250th birthday. To mark this momentous occasion, the U.S. Mint is planning a major coin programme that will include not only commemorative coins, such as a “best of” US coinage history, but also new designs for circulation coins. As you can imagine, the bureau is working flat out right now, and the change in leadership has come at a rather bad moment.
Not afraid of being close to the people: Gibson at the U.S. Mint booth at the 2023 ANA. Photo: CoinsWeekly
We believe Gibson will be missed. As Director of the U.S. Mint, she always gave her all to her team and especially to collectors. She was remarkably present for them. She was a regular at coin shows in the United States and abroad, and was always available to answer collectors’ questions in person.
A Heartfelt Message
Finally, let us hear from Gibson herself. She posted this farewell message on LinkedIn:
“With a sad but grateful heart, I am finally retiring (for real) after 50 years of service to our country. Thank you to the United States Mint workforce, my former agencies NLRB, HHS, FAA, VA, the U.S. Navy and the District of Columbia government. The most defining moment of my life has been taking care of our employees, they are key to our success. Most of you who know me, know that I love the Lord and I pray for our workforce and what we are going through. It breaks my heart. I’ve had a great run and I have so many people I’ve met and many who have become friends. Don’t know much about what i will do next, but I have to say, US Mint, we had a great run over the past 3 years. We implemented so many wonderful programs, bringing in over 9 billion and we are not funded by the Federal government. This speaks volumes of the workforce. From San Francisco, to Denver, to Fort Knox, to West Point, to Philadelphia and headquarters in Washington, DC. We designed, manufactured, marketed and sold coins and medals while protecting our national assets. Wait until you see what er designed and will produce for our 250th anniversary. Great team, great outcomes, highly devoted and a phenomenal protections team. For this, thank you. As I have shared, be blessed and be a blessing. Your love for me will be indelibly written in my heart!”
