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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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16y ago

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