,) without lessening its value. M, whether capital or uncial, expressed 1000. In the uncial form it sometimes assumed that of one of those figures, CI
, CD, ∞,
. The cumbent X was also used to signify a similar number.
In ancient MSS. 4 is written IIII and not IV, 9 thus VIIII and not IX, etc. Instead of V five units, IIIII, were sometimes used in the eighth century. Half was expressed by an S at the end of the figures, CIIS was put 102 1⁄2. This S sometimes appeared in the form of our 5.
In some old MSS. those numerical figures LXL are used to express 90. The Roman numeral letters were generally used both in England, France, Italy, and Germany, from the earliest times to the middle of the fifteenth century. {96}
The ancient people of Spain made use of the Roman ciphers. The X with the top of the right-hand stroke in form of a semi-circle reckoned for 40; it merits the more particular notice as it has misled many of the learned. The Roman ciphers, however, were continued in use with the Spaniards until the fifteenth century. The Germans used the Roman ciphers for a long time, nearly in the same manner as the French.
The points after the Roman ciphers were exceedingly various, and never rightly fixed. It is not known when the ancient custom was first introduced of placing an O at top immediately after the Roman characters, as Aº Mº Lº VIº etc.
NUMERAL LETTERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Roman | Arabic | |
| Unus, a, um | I | 1 |
| Duo, ae, o | II | 2 |
| Tres, ia | III | 3 |
| Quatuor | IV [IIII] | 4 |
| Quinque | V | 5 |
| Sex | VI | 6 |
| Septem | VII | 7 |
| Octo | VIII | 8 |
| Novem | IX | 9 |
| Decem | X | 10 |
| Undecim | XI | 11 |
| Duodecim | XII | 12 |
| Tredecim | XIII | 13 |
| Quatuordecim | XIV | 14 |
| Quindecim | XV | 15 |
| Se(sex)decim | XVI | 16 |
| Septemdecim | XVII | 17 |
| Octodecim or Duodeviginti | XVIII | 18 |
| Novemdecim or Undeviginti | XIX | 19 |
| Viginti | XX | 20 |
| Triginta | XXX | 30 |
| Quadraginta | XL | 40 |
| Quinquaginta | L | 50 |
| Sexaginta | LX | 60 |
| Septuaginta | LXX | 70 |
| Octoginta | LXXX | 80 |
| Nonaginta | XC | 90 |
| Centum | C | 100 |
| Ducenti-ae-a | CC | 200 |
| Trecenti-ae-a | CCC | 300 |
| Quadringenti-ae-a | CCCC | 400 |
| Quingenti-ae-a | I or D | 500 |
| Sexcenti-ae-a | DC | 600 |
| Septingenti-ae-a | DCC | 700 |
| Octingenti-ae-a | DCCC | 800 |
| Nongenti-ae-a | DCCCC or CM | 900 |
| Mille | M or CI | 1000 |
| Duo millia or Bis mille | MM | 2000 |
| Tria millia or Ter mille | MMM | 3000 |
| Quatuor millia or Quater mille | MMMM | 4000 |
| Quinque millia or Quinquies mille | I or  | 5000 |
| Decem millia or Decies mille | CCI or  | 10,000 |
| Quinquaginta millia or Quinquaquies mille | I or  | 50,000 |
| Centum millia or Centies mille | CCCI or  | 100,000 |
| Quingenta millia or Quingenties mille | I or  | 500,000 |
| Decies centena millia | CCCCI or  | 1,000,000 |