In 1941, the Canadian five-cent coin, commonly known as the "nickel," featured a beaver design, symbolizing Canadas fur trade heritage. This design choice reflected the nations economic reliance on the fur industry. The coins composition was 99.9% nickel, highlighting the metals abundance and significance in Canadian industry.
During World War II, the demand for nickel surged due to its essential role in manufacturing military equipment. Consequently, the Royal Canadian Mint altered the five-cent coins composition in 1942, replacing nickel with tombac (an alloy of copper and zinc) to conserve nickel for wartime production. This change underscored the strategic importance of nickel in Canadas war effort.