1d DIES

1d DIES

There was only ever one 1d die, subsequently altered.

A total of six dies were supplied with the PB shipment of plates. Five were ‘blank value’, intended for electroplate production of various, as needed, denominations. But, unlike these other five dies, the 1d die was specifically designed for a typographic steel plate, as opposed to lead mould stamping (eg), and was pre-engraved 1d, rather than blank.

Die1

1d Die 1 units occupy almost all the positions of the PB plates (460 units).

Die2

						6
						12
						18
						24
						30
						36
						42
						48
						54
						60

The so called 1d Die2 was a transfer roller fault. It exclusively occupies the 2^nd and 3^rd columns of the PB upper left plate, right pane (20 units). The fault was caused by a single design line breaking away, and is visible as a progressively deteriorating ‘spur’ on the bottom frame of the left value tablet. The bottom 2 units in the 2^nd column are not readily apparent (and consequently debatable) die2 flaws. The slightly thickened bottom frame of the tablet on #56 continues into the 1^st column of the right pane and on some units of the left pane. Since the left plates were withdrawn for a decade due to rusted cliches, Die2 is not present on many printings, watermarks and colours.

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Example of Die 2 (on left) versus Die 1 on right from Pane 3 (naturally) #'s 39/40.
This is towards the last of the two offending rows and the spur becomes less detectable.

Die3.

Die3 is a genuine alteration to the 1d die, by Harrison, to make it suitable for stamping lead moulds. It is exclusive to the War Savings plate for all of that plate’s 120 units. The die subsequently became unusable for any future purpose.

In carrying out this work Harrison lightened the design, as it found to be too shallow for striking moulds. The lighter effects are a direct result of the deeper cutting that Harrison had to make.

The main differences between Dies 1 and 3 are:-

Die 1	Die 3
Shading round head uneven.	Shading round head even.
Shading behind Emu's neck merges into coloured line of outer oval	White space between lines of shading and line of oval.
3rd line of shading in top left corner extends between two leaves of wattle.	3rd line of shading does not extend across space between leaves.
Shading of King's neck unbroken.	Horizontal break across four left-hand lines of shading on neck near base.
Shading round all value tablets merges into solid colour of the tablets.	White space between shading and solid colour of tablets.
Letters of ONE PENNY thickened even.	Letters short thick and uneven.

It seems likely that the break in the shading lines on the King's neck came from a slip of the graving tool when the shading in front of the neck was being opened up.