Bare head of George VI facing left, surrounded by the legend, an abbreviated translation of “George VI by the Grace of God, King and Emperor of India”.

George VI (1895–1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death. He was the last Emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth.

As the second son of King George V, he was not expected to inherit the throne and spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother, Edward. George's elder brother ascended the throne as Edward VIII upon the death of their father in 1936. However, later that year Edward revealed his desire to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin advised Edward that for political and religious reasons he could not marry a divorced woman and remain king. Edward abdicated in order to marry, and George ascended the throne as the third monarch of the House of Windsor.

Engraver: Thomas Humphrey Paget

Depicts a beaver (left) on a rock in a river, over the country name and date, facial value above, flanked on both sides by a maple leaf.

The beaver (genus Castor) is a large, primarily nocturnal, semiaquatic rodent. Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges (homes). Their colonies create one or more dams to provide still, deep water to protect against predators, and to float food and building material.

All 1937 5 cent coins included a dot to the right of the date, so this is not considered a variety. The designer felt the dot was needed to balance the design due to lean of the 7 creating a bigger gap to the right than the left of the date.

Engraver: George Edward Kruger Gray