Who was the longest termed Mint Director ? - I found this interesting

1630Boston

Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming — May 1933 to April 1953

Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876-1977) was the first woman appointed Mint Director and is the longest-termed Mint Director, serving 20 years (1933-1953). Appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ross served five Secretaries of the Treasury: William Woodin, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Fred Vinson, John Snyder, and George Humphrey. Her four consecutive 5-year terms spanned the Great Depression, World War II, and the Korean War. Nellie Tayloe Ross was a descendent of John Tayloe who built the Octagon house in Washington, D.C. and convinced others to build homes and live in the new capital rather than in Georgetown. James and Dolley Madison lived in the Octagon House after the British burned the White House in August 1814. Mrs. Ross was also descended from Patty Ball, a cousin of George Washington, and was the first woman elected Governor in the United States, serving in Wyoming (1925-1927).

During her 20-year tenure as Mint Director, Mrs. Ross was responsible for several innovations in coinage manufacture, the construction of three new buildings, and management of a greatly expanded bureau due to an increase in business in the mid-1930s. Increased demand at the end of the Depression and the entrance of America into World War II forced the Mint into operating 24 hour, seven days a week. Mrs. Ross managed the hiring of hundreds of new employees, as the number of employees rose to 4,000 – the largest number ever working at the Mint at one time. She also oversaw the construction of three new Mint facilities and was the first woman to have her name on the corner stone of three government buildings – the new mint at San Francisco (1937), the silver depository at West Point, New York (1938) and the gold depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky (1936).

In the early 1950s, a management improvement program in operating procedures led to revolutionary results in the manufacturing processes of coinage. Mrs. Ross expanded the program of proof coins in 1936 and restored the production of proof coins in 1950 after manufacturing of proof coins had been halted during the war.

Mrs. Ross managed the production of the zinc-coated steel penny and five-cent pieces with reduced copper, nickel and manganese to save vital metals during the war. The Jefferson nickel (1938) designed by engraver Felix Schlag and the Roosevelt dime (1946) designed by mint Chief Engraver John Sinnock were engraved, minted and released during her administration. The U.S. Mint’s medal department was also greatly expanded to accommodate the production of several million military combat awards and decorations that honored the heroic actions by the American military in World War II.

CoinJunkie

Interesting info. When she became MD, four of the six coin denominations still featured allegorical designs on the obverse. By the time she left, all denominations featured American statesmen (presidents, except for Franklin). Just an observation, not a value judgment. I wonder if she had final say on those changes.

MedalCollector

She is one of my favorite mint directors. Here are a couple pieces from her personal collection, including her 1936 assay commission medal, and a uniface lead striking of the 1st version of her Mint Director medal.

BuffaloIronTail

Nice story. Beautiful collection.

All I can say is WOW!

Pete

1630Boston

@GoldenEgg said:
She is one of my favorite mint directors. Here are a couple pieces from her personal collection, including her 1936 assay commission medal, and a uniface lead striking of the 1st version of her Mint Director medal.

Beautiful collection

1630Boston

She was quite a person and business women for her time.

1630Boston

I actually found a video of her

Nellie Tayloe Ross (video courtesy of Columbia Pictures, 1940)

https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesMint/videos/256431285362743/

WAYNEAS

@1630Boston said:
I actually found a video of her

Nellie Tayloe Ross (video courtesy of Columbia Pictures, 1940)

https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesMint/videos/256431285362743/

nice add on