• In 1943 1943, Canada introduced a new reverse design for the 5 Cents coin.
• Instead of the beaver, it featured a torch and “V” for “victory” to help promote Canada’s World War II effort.
• The “V” has a double meaning: it was a representation of Winston Churchill's “V” for victory sign and of the Roman numeral “V” for five cents.
• A code message “We Win When We Work Willingly” is inscribed around the rim on the reverse.
• The “Victory” coin was struck until 1945 when the war ended; the beaver design returned in 1946.
• The 1943 and some 1944 coins were struck in tombac, an alloy that was developed to replace nickel in the 5 Cents coin.
• Tombac is a type of brass made from .880 copper and .120 zinc.
• Some 1944 and all 1945 coins were struck in steel because copper and zinc were needed for the war effort.
• The tombac and steel coins are 12-sided so they could be differentiated from a penny when they tarnished.
• The obverse of each World War II coin shows the portrait of King George VI.
• In 2005, the Royal Canadian Mint re-issued the wartime Victory nickel to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.
• The 2005 coin features the same Victory design but with the dual dates 1945 and 2005.
• The 2005 coin is nickel-plated steel; it is round.
• There are 4 “Victory” 5 Cents coins in the set – one from each year from 1943 to 1945, plus the 2005 coin.
• Two coins are tombac (.880 copper and .120 zinc), one is steel, and one is nickel-plated steel (.945 steel, .035 copper, and .020 nickel).
• The obverse of the 2005 coin shows the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
• The collection comes in a custom display wallet with a Certificate of Authenticity.
