Table:
|  |  | 2019 |  | 2018 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Number | €m | Number | €m |
| Ordinary shares of 2020⁄21 US cents each allotted, issued and fully paid:1, 2 |  |  |  |  |
| 1 April | 28,814,803,308 | 4,796 | 28,814,142,848 | 4,796 |
| Allotted during the year3 | 454,870 | – | 660,460 | – |
| 31 March | 28,815,258,178 | 4,796 | 28,814,803,308 | 4,796 |
Paragraphs:
6. Called up share capital
Accounting policies
Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the amount of the proceeds received, net of direct issuance costs.
Notes: 1 At 31 March 2019 there were 50,000 (2018: 50,000) 7% cumulative fixed rate shares of £1 each in issue
2 At 31 March 2019 the Group held 1,584,882,610 (2018: 2,139,038,029) treasury shares with a nominal value of €264 million (2018: €356 million). The market value of shares held was €2,566 million (2018: €4,738 million). During the year, 45,657,750 (2018: 53,026,317) treasury shares were reissued under Group share schemes. On 25 August 2017, 729,077,001 treasury shares were issued in settlement of tranche 1 of a maturing subordinated mandatory convertible bond issued on 19 February 2016. On 25 February 2019, 799,067,749 treasury shares were issued in settlement of tranche 2 of the maturing subordinated mandatory convertible bond. On 5 March 2019 the Group announced the placing of subordinated mandatory convertible bonds totalling £1.72 billion with a 2 year maturity date in 2021 and £1.72 billion with a 3 year maturity date due in 2022. The bonds are convertible into a total of 2,547,204,739 ordinary shares with a conversion price of £1.3505 per share. For further details see note 20 “Borrowings and capital resources” in the consolidated financial statements.
3 Represents US share awards and option scheme awards.
Question:
How many shares were allotted as at 31 March 2019?
Answer: 28,815,258,178