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'V’ for victory | How the Victory Nickel became an enduring symbol of hope

  • Sep 03, 2020
  • History
  • 5 minutes read
In the final years of the war, many Canadians carried a token of hope that victory would come and peace would follow. On May 8, 1945, the vision of the Victory nickel came true. The Victory nickel, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, was introduced at a time when things weren’t looking so bright. At the outset of 1943, Canadian troops were reeling from the disastrous failure of the Dieppe Raid the previous summer, and the Battle of the Atlantic continued to claim large numbers of casualties.
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In the final years of the war, many Canadians carried a token of hope that victory would come and peace would follow. On May 8, 1945, the vision of the Victory nickel came true. The Victory nickel, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, was introduced at a time when things weren’t looking so bright. At the outset of 1943, Canadian troops were reeling from the disastrous failure of the Dieppe Raid the previous summer, and the Battle of the Atlantic continued to claim large numbers of casualties.
Original 1943 Victory nickel made of tombac Original 1943 Victory nickel made of tombac

To rally spirits and reinvigorate the belief that the war could be won, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a five-cent coin featuring a design partly inspired by Sir Winston Churchill’s famous “V for Victory” sign. The design was the brainchild of engraver Thomas Shingles, and was the first coin to be designed, engraved and struck entirely in Canada, with Shingles hand-cutting the master matrix.

A “nickel” in name only

While five-cent pieces have been called nickels in Canada for generations, the Victory Nickel was actually minted in bronze alloy because nickel was desperately needed for weaponry and armour plating. Working with other Mint officials, Shingles created a design that featured the now-iconic “V”, a flaming torch to represent sacrifice, and a coded patriotic message using Morse code to spell out “We win when we work willingly” around the edge of the coin.

Victory Nickels were produced from 1943 to 1946, then retired in favour of the much more placid beaver once the war was done.

Thomas Shingles, the chief engraver created a design that featured the now-iconic “V” for victory Thomas Shingles, the chief engraver created a design that featured the now-iconic “V” for victory

Our own past influences the present

This year, as we celebrate the end of the Second World War, our own past influences the present, with the 1945 Victory nickel serving as the inspiration for the design of our latest commemorative coin. The famed “V” is the centrepiece of the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War commemorative coin, which today serves as a token to remember and to honour the brave men and women who fought for our freedom – 75 years ago.

Hold onto bravery with the 2020 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War commemorative coin.

2020 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War commemorative coin 2020 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War commemorative coin