who can read roman numerals

does anyone know what year this is

 

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I can read roman numerals but can't find where they are on the coin

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_numerals

 

1876

 

Okay, I see them now....

1876, like Swish said.

 

the date is circled... mdccclxxvi

 

right behind her back

 

That always gets me! Why do they have to use a foreign language when everyone knows standard dates?

#2 Why are dates hard to read on some coins, like 1/10 oz. eagles--they could easily make it so you don't need magnification.

 

do you think it overly worn looking considering its from 1876

thx

 

Each letter has a value.
Most of the time it is just easy addition.
I = 1
V = 5
X = 10
L = 50
C = 100
D = 500
M = 1000
If a lower numeral comes before a higher numeral, you subtract the lower from the higher before adding it: IV = 4 / CM = 900

For your coin, MDCCCLXXVI:
M = 1000
D = 500
C = 100
C = 100
C = 100
L = 50
X = 10
X = 10
V = 5
I = 1
MDCCCLXXVI = 1876

It's easy, really.

 

Here's a few basic rules to help you read them in the future.

Once you know what the symbols stand for, it's pretty basic. You can't have more than three of the same symbol in a row to form a number. So you can't do, "IIIII" to make 5. It has to be a "V". Next rule, when a lower value symbol comes before a higher value symbol, it is subtracted from the higher to give you your number. i.e... IV is a 4. IX is a 9. All values follow this rule.

So: mdccclxxvi All declining values in a row so these just need to be added together to give you the date. M= 1k. D=500. C=100 L=50 and so on. These symbols translate to:

1000+500+100+100+100+50+10+10+5+1= 1876.

2012 would simply be MMXII. 1k+1k+10+1+1. 2009 would be MMIX. 1989 would be MCMLXXXIX First M is your 1k. The C has to be subtracted from the bigger M in front of it for your 9. LXXX gets added together for your 80. IX gives you the 9.

Wife had to learn them for college and I ended up learning them too. I like it.

 

While you're correct that you aren't supposed to use more than three of the same symbols consecutively, I have seen dates (incorrectly) displayed that way on some medals. I don't think there was any prerequisite centuries ago that medalists had to be mathematicians.

Chris

 

do you know what this coin is worth

 

Watchmakers often used IIII instead of IV.

 

Good catch. I just looked at the watch Im wearing and it has IIII for the 4. Most of it is cut off because the date window is there. I wonder why they do this?

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CM = 900 (not 90).

 

romans often did the same thing. "cos IIII"

 

Assuming its the Gothic Florin rather than the Halfcrown, the book value is £35 for fine ($55) it is a scarcer year, however a realistic sale value would be around £15 if the reverse is the same condition as the obverse.

 

A William IV coin is displayed as IIII

 

Well I googled it. Prior to 1200 to 1300 AD, IIII was commonly used for 4, essentially breaking the rule. It was commonly used on roman sun dials. It is though that it possibly was done because IV had something to do with the God Jupiter. They may have avoided using it out of respect.
Clock and watch makers still use IIII mainly out of tradition.


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