107 For Canadians on the Homefront during the Second World War, making do with less and without became part of the civilian contribution to the war effort. With priority of resources given to the war effort, everything from food, gasoline, tires, and fabric were either rationed or simply unavailable to Canadians citizens. Even certain metals, needed for the war effort, resulted in changes in the form of a humble coin. The five-cent piece, the good old Canadian beaver nickel, minted in pure nickel suddenly became a strategic resource too valuable to use on pocket change. And so began the story of the Canadian Tombac V nickel, a coin that would come to symbolize not just a monetary denomination, but a nation geared for victory! Canada, as one of the world’s leading producers of nickel faced unprecedent demands for the metal by 1942. Nickel was essential for manufacturing armor plating, aircraft components, and other wartime necessities. Continuing to use it for coinage was no longer feasible and the Royal Canadian Mint needed an immediate alternative. Tombac, a brass-like alloy composed of 88% copper and 12% zinc was the solution. It was durable and easy to mint but its distinctive golden hue posed a problem. The colour closely resembled the colour of the copper penny, which could lead to confusion. To solve this problem, the Mint introduced a dodecagonal (twelve-sided) shape for the new five-cent piece, making it instantly recognizable by touch and sight. The Mint’s redesign wasn’t just practical; it was deeply symbolic. In 1943, the reverse of the coin underwent a dramatic transformation. The traditional beaver was replaced by a bold “V” that stood for both Victory and the Roman numeral five. Above the V blazed a flaming torch, a beacon of hope and determination. But the most remarkable feature was hidden in plain sight: the rim of the coin bore a message in Morse Code that read, “We win when we work willingly.” This encoded slogan was a subtle yet powerful call to action, urging Canadians to contribute to the war effort with dedication and unity. By John Goheen V for Victory: Canada’s Nickel Goes toWar
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