what's the story about the tombac?

have this five cent piece ,would like to know more about it?

 

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Short answer: WWII. Long answer: https://www.jandm.com/script/getitem.asp?CID=3&PID=86

 

thanks!

 

On the reverse of the 43-45 nickel there is Morse code that say's something like "We win when we work willingly" . Just a bit of propaganda.

 

It's normal for a Canadian nickel at the start of WWII.

 

I recently posted this in another thread, but I guess I'll just post it again because I think the 12-sided tombac coin is really cool. I have this and the round nickel-composition 1937 side-by-side in holders on my desk. I like the side with the beaver, so the fingerprint is on the side I don't see.

 

Tombac the Magnificient?

 

Tombac is a variety of brass. It is 88% copper and 12% zinc. This was done for 2 years until they needed the copper, switching to nickel/chromium-plated steel in 1944 and '45. They did this metal combination again in 1951-54 during the Korean War (Police Action).
Tombac is the same alloy ratio (88:12) as the Flying Eagle Cents, but with nickel instead of zinc.

 

does the reverse rim of mine

look different?

 

Not sure. If you look at the animation you’ll see the same effect at the 3:00 to 6:00 positions, where it looks like there’s an extra rounded collar outside the straight edges.