[MR] Roman Numerals

[siegfriedmcclure at aol.com]

Both systems were used in ancient times.  On the Colosseum, most entrances were numbered with the long form (IIII not IV).  But in a curious coincidence, the Fortieth entrance is labeled XL.  Entrance FortyFour has the label XLIIII, which shows that the rules were not hard and fast even in the First century.
 
 
http://www.wilkiecollins.demon.co.uk/roman/intro.htm 
 
 
Siegfried McClure
Exchequer for the Canton of Sudentorre
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Roy B. Scherer <rscherer at infionline.net>
To: The Merry Rose <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Sent: Sun, 22 May 2005 16:13:38 -0400
Subject: Re: [MR] Roman Numerals


At 02:25 PM5/22/2005-0400, you wrote: 
>Just out of curiosity... I always thought the proper notation in Roman 
>Numerals for 40 is XL. I noticed XXXX on the Acorn. Which is 
>correct? Which will be mowed into Mt Aislinn this year at Pennsic? 
>Are we extra-large, or 4x (which is significantly bigger)? Okay, 
>enough rambling. :) 
 
  I think that either is historically correct -- that the "XL" format was developed after the "XXXX" format. 
 
>"I mocked Voldemort. Ask me how!" 
 
  I keep wondering, so now I'll ask: how? 
 
end 
 
  - - Roy B. Scherer 
 [8 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221; (804) 355-7612] 
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