"Whatever the explanation, the new steel coins were sufficiently popular with all parties to survive until the use of nickel was resumed after the war. In fact by early 1945, supplies of nickel were sufficient to permit this metal's use in coinage, but the government continued to issue the steel coins throughout the year. This was done as a gesture to the Stanley Steel Co. which had gone through some trouble and expense to supply the steel blanks. The standard nickel coins with their familiar beaver design were reintroduced in 1946. They retained the twelve-sided shape, and the tombac coins began to be withdrawn."
Haxby, J. A.,
Striking Impressions p. 176
This is the only time I see Stanley Steel mentioned in the book (and also the first time I see that the
RCM got their wartime planchets from an outside source), in the last paragraph of the chapter "Coinage During the War Years".
There is another mention of steel nickels, three chapters further. The Stanley Steel Co was not mentioned:
"The 1951 commemorative five-cent piece did very nearly become scarce. the Korean War which had begun in the summer of 1950 put renewed pressure on Canada's supply of refined nickel which was useful for weapons of war as well as for coins. Once again the five-cent piece had to be composed of steel. This time it was coated with a very thin (.01 mm) layer of nickel and plated with chromium, The beaver reverse with very slight modifications was used again. Only the Mint's early production, beginning in 1950, of more than eight million commemorative coins saved the country from having to honour the discovery of nickel with a steel coin. It also deprived speculators of a rarity."
Haxby, J. A.,
Striking Impressions p. 198
By the way Harmonica, I replied to your PM.
Posted 11/26/2014 4:53 pm
