Canada Victory 5c piece: alternative sketches

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In the early 1940s, the Canadian 5 cents coin, portraying a beaver, was made of nickel. However, the Royal Canadian Mint knew that nickel was in short supply because of the Second World War, so eventually they decided to mint it in tombac. To avoid possible confusion with the cent piece, it was decided that the new 5c coin should be made dodecagonal (twelve-sided), like the British brass threepence.

It was further decided that if the coin also had a design change, this would assist public acceptance of the new metal and shape. Robert Edmunds, the Chief of the Coining and Medal Division, had the idea of using a victory "V" sign, which had been made popular by Winston Churchill, for the new design. In the event, the legal consent required for a design change was slow in coming, so in 1942 the beaver design was re-used, but this time on a twelve-sided tombac planchet.

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Thomas Shingles became Chief Engraver of the Royal Canadian Mint in 1943.

He was employed to create a Victory design.






Here are some of Mr Shingle's preliminary designs.

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Eventually a single large "V" in conjunction with a torch was chosen for the design.

A message inscribed on the perimeter of the reverse read: "We win when we work willingly".

A tombac version of the newly designed coin was issued in 1943 and 1944.

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In 1944 and 1945, the metal content was changed to chromium-plated steel.

From 1946 to 1950 onward, the beaver returned to the 5 cents coin.

It retained the 12-sided format but was once again minted in nickel.

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Interesting to see that the idea to let the V double as part of the denomination was a (clever) afterthought. Also, the first time to see a French denomination on a Canadian coin, albeit with the words in reverse order.

Peter