Material: Silver
Diameter: 36 mm
Weight: 35g
Description: This 36mm circular military campaign decoration is the distinct Canadian-struck variant of the War Medal 1939–1945. The obverse side features a crisp, high-relief coinage profile of King George VI facing left, wearing the Imperial State Crown. Encircling the rim is the raised Latin legend "GEORGIVS VI G. BR. OMN. REX ET INDIAE IMP.", proclaiming him King of Great Britain and Emperor of India. Tiny designer initials "P.M." for artist Percy Metcalfe are tucked precisely beneath the truncation of the King's neck. Unlike the standard British issues, which were manufactured in a dull dull-gray cupro-nickel alloy, this specific piece gleams with the unmistakable, bright mirrored patina of true Canadian silver coinage metal. The medal is physically anchored by a non-swiveling, single-toed claw mount attached to a plain, straight horizontal suspension bar designed to carry a ribbon.
Reverse: Lion standing triumphant over a double-headed dragon representing the Axis powers, with the dates 1939 – 1945 above; designed by Percy Metcalfe.
Circa: 1945 – 1948
Notes:
This medal was awarded to all full-time members of the Armed Forces who completed at least 28 days of service during the Second World War. Canada stood out as one of the few Commonwealth nations to execute their production run using an .800 fine silver composition, making these pieces highly sought after as standalone structural types compared to standard British cupro-nickel versions.