Louisiana now has one of its own leading the U.S. Mint during one of the nation’s biggest milestone years.
Paul Hollis, a Louisiana native with deep roots in Mandeville and Grace King, now serves as director of the U.S. Mint. During an interview on Talk 107.3, Hollis said the role brings together two major parts of his life: public service and coin collecting.
Hollis said his love for coins started when he was 7 years old. His grandmother gave him a coin she had saved during the Great Depression, and that moment sparked a lifelong passion. He later graduated from LSU, worked for a major coin company, served 12 years in the Louisiana Legislature and served on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Now, Hollis leads the Mint as America prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence.
The U.S. Mint has released new coin designs for 2026, including dual dates of 1776 and 2026 on several coins. Hollis said the Thomas Jefferson quarter has already started reaching circulation across the country.
One version of that quarter includes a special “July 4” privy mark. The Mint produced only 250,000 of those marked quarters, which Hollis described as a nationwide treasure hunt.
He said the marked coins have been sent into distribution channels across the country, giving Americans a chance to find one in their change. Even without the privy mark, Hollis said the 2026 designs stand out because many will only run for one year.
Hollis encouraged people to check their change, protect any special coins they find and visit usmint.gov for more information.
For Louisiana, Hollis’ role marks another example of the state’s growing presence on the national stage.