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Before modern times it was common to use IIII as 4 in roman numerals. Originally IV represented the Roman god Jupiter, in latin IVPPITER. The Ancient Romans started using the short handed method we know today, subtractive notation, somewhere in the middle ages. Going back to the question of why do they use it on grandfather clocks. Some have said it is for symmatry, some stories said it made more sense to those in England who made them, others sources say they didnt find it appropriate to use the symbol of a roman god, and finally I have read it is because Louis XIV who was king of France preferred the older use. Regardless of reasoning it is said on some grandfather clock sites that the IIII is not incorrect or a mistake, but none of them tell the story of why.
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What is the roman numeral for 1111?
MCXI
Which is older roman numeral 1111 or 1V?
It is IIII but they are both the equivalent of 4
Why is the incorrect 1111 Roman numeral used on a clock instead of 1V?
Presumably you mean IIII and IV not 1111 and 1V? Both IIII and IV are correct Roman numerals representing 4. IV is a simplification of IIII. Traditionally IIII is used on clocks instead of IV. The ancient Romans used IIII for 4 because they were superstitious about IV, those being the first two letters of Jupiter's name.
What is the Roman numeral MCXI?
M represents 1000, C is 100, X is 10 and I is 1. So this would be 1,111.
What is 1111 in Roman numerals?
1111 is MCXI
