The year 1878 is the penultimate for which die numbers were used on the shillings and it is clear that the process of adding the numbers was becoming less precise. Several of the die numbers are very weakly entered on the die, and others have been entered two, three or more times.
This date is characterised by the use of two different Obverses (P.J. Davies Obv. 5 and Obv. 6). These were not used in a simple sequence. A hybrid Obverse die has also been discovered, with characteristics of both of these Obverses, found exclusively with die number 53. To add further complexity, for die numbers 49-54, each die number is known on two or more distinct dies.
An almost complete set of known die numbers, including the varieties, is presented with enlarged photographs.
BNS Research Blog 