109 The man behind this patriotic effort, was Thomas Shingles, an engraver at the Royal Canadian Mint. In an era when coin designs were typically scaled down using mechanical pantographs, Shingles hand-cut the master matrix himself - a feat of craftsmanship and national pride. His work marked the first time a Canadian coin was entirely designed, engraved, and struck within the country. That original matrix is now preserved in the National Currency Collection at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa. The Tombac V nickel was minted in 1942 and 1943 and quickly became a symbol of wartime Canada. Its golden color, unique shape, and patriotic design made it stand out in circulation. Canadians embraced the coin not just as currency but as a daily reminder of their shared struggle for victory. However, even Tombac was not immune to wartime shortages. By 1944, this substitute alloy was in short supply. Once again, the Mint was forced to make changes to a more economic alternative, this time to chromium-plated steel. These coins retained the same “V” design but had a silvery appearance more akin to traditional nickels. Most were chrome-plated, though a few uncoated versions exist, distinguishable by their duller finish. The Tombac V nickel wasn’t just a wartime necessity; it became an artifact of Canada’s wartime experience. In 2005, the Royal Canadian Mint reissued the design to commemorate the 60th anniversary of V-E Day, honouring the original coin’s spirit and the sacrifices of a generation. Collectors today prize Tombac nickels, not just for their rarity, but for the story these coins tell. They represent a time when Canada, like much of the free world, was stretched thin but did not break. In an age where coins are rarely used, the Tombac V nickel stands as a gleaming reminder of a time when even the smallest piece of metal represented the nation at war. It’s more than a coin, it’s a chapter in Canada’s story, etched in brass and Morse code. Year Composition Weight Diameter Shape Notable Features 1942 88% copper, 12% zinc 4.54g 21.3mm Dodecagonal Beaver reverse 1943 88% copper, 12% zinc 4.54g 21.3mm Dodecagonal V for Victory, Morse code rim 1944 Chromium-plated steel 4.54g 21.3mm Dodecagonal Same design as 1943 1944 Tombac (rare) 4.54g 21.3mm Dodecagonal Only one known specimen 1945 Chromium-plated steel 4.54g 21.3mm Dodecagonal Continued Victory design
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