Ventris C. Gibson is a history making figure herself. She is the first Black person to be appointed the U.S. Mint director. Gibson was appointed to the position by President Joe Biden in 2022, leading the largest Mint in the world. She is also a U.S. Navy veteran and has worked in public service departments for over 50 years.
The Mint department is selling a Harriet Tubman coin collection for a limited time through December. Gibson spoke to rolling out about Tubman‘s legacy and her journey to becoming Mint director.
Where are the proceeds going?
The legislation allows us to pay surcharges to two recipient organizations. In this case, one is the Harriet Tubman home in Auburn, New York, and the other is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
We have sold slightly more than 50,000 of her coins, and we’re hopeful of hitting the million-dollar surplus so that those two organizations can divide it. Since the surcharge program started, the U.S. Mint has awarded over $540 million to various recipient organizations for commemorative coin programs. So, this is our chance to make sure that the Freedom Center and the Auburn Home receive a nice surcharge, so they can continue the goodwill and the good work they’ve done so far.
What’s the significance of having Harriet Tubman on a coin?
It recognizes figures from eras like the Underground Railroad and what the contributions were, because it’s significant.
When you think about Harriet Tubman, there are so many civil rights leaders who have done so many wonderful things for us, and Harriet Tubman stands out most for me, because she not only led enslaved persons to freedom but did so 13 times. She did this and never lost anyone, never left anyone behind … she led slaves to freedom from Maryland and Delaware to Pennsylvania. Can you imagine that far? Thirteen times? That’s unbelievable. These days, we want to drive even just to the corner store.
She was 13 years old when she was in a general store. Another slave owner brought his slave in and got upset with that slave for some reason, picked up this heavy metal weight and threw it. It didn’t hit the intended target, the slave, but instead Tubman in her head. As a result, she suffered lifelong seizures, blackouts and headaches. She never stopped, and when she had blackouts, she would pray, and her strong faith ensured she was capable enough to lead people.
What has working as the U.S. Mint director meant to you?
I’m honored to serve and be the first African American in this position. I’m thankful to President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris for making sure the groundwork was laid by the White House. To be here in unanimous consent and confirmation from the Senate, which I’m very pleased with, for the past two years, I’ve focused on making sure the Mint is a great place for our workforce.
I focused on making sure we are inclusive when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion. We ensure those that are collectors, as well as meeting the requirements of the Federal Reserve, because we also produce circulating coins, nickels, dimes, pennies, quarters, etc.
The Federal Reserve places orders with us, and we fulfill those orders, and then they distribute them to the banks as coins only for us. I’ve made sure we deliver on that. It’s important, and we have never failed, so that’s a good thing.
The other part of it, when it comes to coin collecting, is ensuring whatever congressional legislation is there, like for Harriet Tubman or the Greatest Generation Outdoor Memorial, that we fulfill those requirements and are collecting America through coins.
