Numerous coins over the years have featured Morse Code, most notably from the US, Canada and Great Britain. And not surprisingly, given its strategic importance in military conflict, Morse code is often seen on war coin commemoratives.

The United States World War II 50th Anniversary commemorative gold $5 dollar dated 1991-1995 and struck at the West Point mint, features "dot-dot-dot-dash" super-imposed over a capital "V". The "V", a signal often used by the indomitable Winston Churchill during World War II, became a symbol of hope to the beleaguered nations fighting the Nazi regime. The Morse Code, spelling the letter V, reinforces the symbolism. Many older Americans well remember newsreel footage of the portly figure, hand raised in the gesture, that was flashed over thousands of movie screens. Even today, it reminds us of his oft-quoted maxim to "never, never, never quit."

Canadian Victory Nickel (1943-1945), celebrating the success of the Allied Powers in World War II, was designed by Thomas Shingles. The phrase "We win when we work willingly" is engraved around the edge of the coin in Morse Code. In 2005, a commemorative of the "V" nickel was issued with the dates 1945-2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of V-E Day.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:MORSE CODE IN NUMISMATICS AND THE MAY 2013 PAN SHOW(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n18a19.html)