The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 34, August 20, 2006, Article 10

CANADA's VICTORY NICKEL

On the Pittsburgh Numismatic Society news group this week, there
was a discussion about the Canadian Victory nickel of 1943-1945.
Chick Ambrass writes: "If I am not mistaken, it is speculated that
this is the only coin ever to have used three different languages
for its inscriptions: Latin, English, and Morse code."   Some web
pages were referenced in the discussion, and I've found a couple
others.

"The 12-sided coin was introduced on January 1, 1943. It was
yellowish-brown and made from an alloy called tombac. On one side
was the face of King George the Sixth. But the Canadian beaver that
had been on the other side was no more. What Canadians saw instead
was an engraving of the letter V with a flaming torch in the middle.
And below it, the words Five Cents."

"The V had two meanings. The Roman numeral for the No. 5, but, more
significantly, it was based on British prime minister Winston
Churchill's two-fingered salute for "Victory."

The coin came to be known as the Victory Nickel.

But, there was more to this coin... All around the edge of the inside
rim on the V side were tiny, raised dots and bars, not seen on any
other Canadian coin.

The engraved dots and dashes are Morse Code. Few Canadians knew this.
They thought the dots and dashes were simply design. The dots and
dashes spell out words. The good-luck, war-effort words, are: We Win
When We Work Willingly."

Full Story

This page shows an image of the coin's reverse: Full Story

This article spells out the Morse Code message: Full Story

[There are certainly plenty of coins and banknotes displaying two
languages, and probably many banknotes displaying three.  But coins
have a smaller surface area with less room for wording.  Is it true
that this nickel is the only one to display three "languages"?   If
not, what are some of the others?  Has any other coin included Morse
Code?  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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