Hi Rich,
Here are my comments about the last 6 mint directors. I
looked them up mostly on Wikipedia (4 of the 6). I saw I could get at least some of the info directly from the mint, but figured that would be one sided so I didnt even use it. Sorry it took so long to post this follow up, I have no excuse. I just did not feel like posting it until the last few days because I knew it would be a long post.
Donna Pope–5th longest termed Director (10 years),
appointed by Reagan. During Reagan’s term there were many budget cuts made to the mint. It looks to me like she did a good job overall, because it appears she did a good job responding to the budget cuts. Could not have been the best time to be the Mint Director. She oversaw the change in the penny from Copper to Zinc. The American Eagle Bullion Program began on her term. Wikipedia says she was “instrumental in the renewal of the Mint’s commemorative coin program and issued the first commemorative coin since 1954”. I assume with the budget cuts, she was trying many things to bring in more revenue. Looks like all you commemorative coin collectors today can thank her for reviving the program. She also established the United States Mint Historians Office and “introduced technological improvements to the mint in the late 1980s with the testing and installation of automated die blank manufacturing processes and testing automatic die polishers and coin stackers”. I wonder if those machines are still being used today and if that is a good or bad thing if they are. I did not see anything about her collecting coins or even caring about them other than as part of her job.
 
David J Ryder–He held the position twice, the first time for just over a year starting in Sep 1992. The second time started in 2017. The Mint pissed me off multiple times during his second time in charge, so I am not a fan. I did not see anything indicating he cares about coins any more than almost all of the other directors listed here. The closest I saw was he worked for Honeywell dealing with anti-counterfeiting systems. These appear to be for paper products, not coins. I noticed Wikipedia said that he personally asked the treasury secretary for the ASE design change. It says he introduced anti-counterfeiting measures to the coins as well. My feeling is he could have added the anti-counterfeiting measures without changing the design. He would be a mere footnote in coin history if he only did the anti-counterfeiting measures, but changing the design of the coin Reagan introduced, ahhh, that gets him a prominent place in the history books. Call me biased, but I think Ryder was all about Ryder promotion and not Mint promotion during his time there. I think it would be very funny if the Mint stops producing the new ASE soon in favor of the Morgan and Peace Dollars. Something I would be in favor of, though I do not believe it will happen.

Philip N Diehl–Looks like he was one of the most effective Directors. Under him, the mint earned the 2nd highest American customer satisfaction rating in the country for 1999 (Mercedes Benz was #1). He introduced the state quarter program, overcoming objections from congress to do so. From the start of his term until the end he increased the mint’s annual profits from $727 million to $2.6 billion.
The part that impressed me most was that he “eliminated nine of ten political patronage positions”. I assume the 10th position is “Director”. I think I would rate him the best of the 6.

Jay W Johnson–He did not serve very long, and Wikipedia does not list anything noteworthy during his time there. It looks like he spent the majority of his career as a television news anchor. On the bright side, it looks like he is the only ex-Director of the 6 that cares about coins–“after leaving the U.S. Mint, he was self employed, selling wholesale coins and was the chief numismatist for the Franklin Mint”.

Henrietta H Fore–Looks like she was an effective Director, too. She had to deal with the disruption caused by 9/11. What stood out is that Wikipedia said that she “took a hands on interest in coin design”. She was responsible for the Westward Journey Nickel Series, the first change to the Nickel since 1938. I do not think she cared about coins specifically, but is interested in “Art” and “Artists” in general.

Edmund C Moy–Based on what I read in Wikipedia, he is a Human Resources executive, like the current Director. Coin World named him one of the Most Influential People in Numismatics in 2021 (something they also did for Ryder). Wikipedia mentions he has been the Chief Strategist for Fortress Gold Group since 2014 and occasionally writes articles for Moneynews.com. Nothing in Wikipedia mentions why he would be considered one of the most influential people in numismatics. I am still mad today about the Mint not making a 2009 Proof ASE under Director Moy.

As far as I can tell, none of these Directors had any connection to the Mint until their appointment. I think it would be better if a Director came from inside the Mint, but I really do not know if they would be any more effective. I wonder if any Directors ever started out as a lower level employee in the Mint.

AS WAS SIMILARLY SAID ABOUT OBAMA I SAY ABOUT VENTRIS – SHE IS NOT MY DIRECTOR

I’m gonna burn some Palo Santo wood and white sage myself. Does gluten free pasta pass as acceptable? I like it, all that matters. Maybe if I OM enough, the bees will join in. Anyone remember Mint Director Mary Brooks? She threatened that if people wouldn’t stop hoarding San Francisco pennies, she’d discontinue releasing them into circulation. Lived up to her threat in 1975, when they’re only available as proof coins. Still sell for $3.50 a coin.

Since when does the Director respond to us “little people”?
Your call will be answered according to the order in which it was received. Thank you for holding.

You’re welcome, Jeff, and thank you. Looking forward to finding out the results of your research into the last six US Mint Directors. My hypothesis is that none of them have any education, experience or background in Numismatics, Fine Arts, United States History, United States Coinage, Minting technology, the science of money, and scholarly antiquarianism (as well as commercial geology, mining, and metallurgy). In other words, no Isaac Newtons in the bunch.

Thanks for the information, Rich. I am going to look these people up over the next few days and see if any of them had any interest in coins. I told Kaiser Wilhelm recently he adds value to this site. You do too.

Jeff, you pose some very interesting questions. Here is the list of the former Directors of the US Mint since President Ronald Reagan signed the Liberty Coin Act into law on July 9, 1985:

Donna Pope (Ohio) July 1981–August 1991
David J. Ryder (Idaho) September 1992–November 1993
Philip N. Diehl (Texas) June 1994–March 2000
Jay W. Johnson (Wisconsin) May 2000–August 2001
Henrietta Holsman Fore (Nevada) August 2001–August 2005
Edmund C. Moy (Wisconsin) September 2006–January 2011
David J. Ryder (Idaho) April 2018–September 2021

Note, there was no Director of the Mint for the 7 years between 2011 and 2017. The Mint was run by principal deputy directors during those years.Traditionally, the U.S. Mint is run under a presidentially appointed director. However, the Mint did not have one after Edmund Moy resigned in January 2011. President Obama nominated Bibiana Boerio, a former Ford Motor Company executive, on Sept. 19, 2012, during the 112th Congress. The Congressional session ended without acting on the appointment and the president never offered a new nomination.

Mike, she is now the Mint’s new “Director.” BTW, which McFly, George or Marty (or both)?