Monday, January 10, 2011

1944 Nickel


I found this in my change! It's an 1944 nickel - these were made of steel plated with chrome in order to save copper and nickel for the war. The 'V' is for victory, and I guess the torch is  a reference to the torch in "In Flanders Field". The chrome wore off easily and the steel quickly rusted. Around the rim of the reverse of the coin there are tiny Morse code dots and dashes that say "We Win When We Work Willingly". The Morse code for the letter "V" was used in allied propaganda broadcasts - the first four notes of Beethoven's 5th Symphony - Duh Duh Duh Daah - is V. It was used in Norman McLaren's "V for Victory" in 1941.

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