this post was submitted on 20 May 2025
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Why the 'IIII' insted of 'IV'?
Prevents confusion between the four and the six: III, IV, V, VI, when the watch is not held perfectly vertically for viewing.
Actually very common in watches with roman numbers iirc
i'm pretty sure that IV is a modern typographic thing
I've also heard that, because in Latin IV is the beginning of "IVPPITER" (Jupiter), there’s a theory that people avoided using "IV" as to not “disrespect” the god’s name. 🤷♀️
Also, on a 12 hour clock, 3 sets of four looks clean af I guess, e.g.:
Since the IIII usage is common in the Middle Ages and even into the Early Modern Period, when nobody believed in Jupiter, that is obviously just something somebody made up.
It could have also started from that and continued on despite people not knowing the reason, no? I do agree that it's quite silly and unlikely, though.
May as well just go with VIIII then. Or maybe 9.
IIIIIIIII