In April 1879 the death of T.J. Minton, the engraver responsible for finishing the dies (and adding the die numbers), coincided with and possibly precipitated the end of the use of die numbers. The die numbered shillings of this date are found with two different Obverses (P.J. Davies Obv. 5 and Obv. 6) and the numbered reverses are all Davies type B. New obverse and reverse dies were also made for the issues without die numbers (Obv. 7 and Rev. C) and the stock of old obverse and reverse dies was also used to produce shillings without die numbered reverses.
A complete set of known die numbers is presented, with enlarged photographs, along with examples of all known types of the 1879 shillings without die numbers.
BNS Research Blog 