Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain during the Second World War, helped popularize the "V For Victory
" slogan in an effort to raise Allied spirits. The people of occupied Europe were urged to paint the letter "V" on the walls of
buildings.
From 1942 until 1945, Canada replaced the traditional beaver with a torch superimposed on a "V" on the back of the Canadian nickel.
"WE WIN WHEN WE WORK WILLINGLY" was also etched in Morse code.
More than twenty-five million of the "V for Victory" coins were minted in 1943 alone. In 2005, during the Year of the Veteran,
the Canadian Mint released a special commemorative "V for Victory" nickel.
SOURCE: Veterans Affairs Canada website.