Canada:
Tombac Five Cents, 1943
During the Second World War, Canadian nickel was in great demand
as a war material. This forced the temporary abandonment of its
use in the coining of five-cent pieces. The first substitute
material employed was a type of brass, called tombac. To aid in
distinguishing them from the bronze one-cent coins, the new
yellow five-cent pieces were given a dodecagonal or 12-sided,
shape. The new coins, designed by Thomas Shingles, the Chief
Engraver at the Royal Canadian Mint, were introduced in 1943. On
the reverse side, the traditional design of a beaver was replaced
by a new special design with a patriotic motif. The large V
featured in the centre stood both for five (cents) and for
victory. To further enhance the impact of the design, the usual
rim beads were replaced by an international code message of dots
and dashes reading: "We win when we work willingly." The same
design was continued for the duration of the war, although in
1944-45 chromium-plated steel was used instead of tombac. The
coin is made of tombac and is in the
National Currency Collection, Bank of Canada.
Photography by J. A. Haxby, Bank of Canada.
Return to previous page.