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A Guide to Understanding Roman Numerals

It's a good idea to know how to read and understand roman numerals if you're interested in collecting The Happy Hollisters books. Most of the books in this series (as well as many of the books in other series) are dated using roman numerals. I'll include a small tutorial on roman numerals as well as a 1953-1970 listing (which covers the dates that the original Happy Hollisters series were published.

First an interesting piece of history. When used by the Romans, Roman numerals were only added and never subtracted. Subtraction of Roman numerals was introduced during the medeival period of history. For example instead of 1997 being written MCMXCVII as it commonly is today...it would have been written instead as MDCCCCLXXXXVII. Quite a difference!

In order to understand Roman Numerals, you need to know what they represent. Below you'll find a listing of what each Roman Numeral represents. I'm listing both the number and the name so that those of you with fonts that look similiar have an easier time reading it.

I = 1 (one)

V = 5 (five)

X = 10 (ten)

L = 50 (fifty)

C = 100 (one hundred)

D = 500 (five hundred)

M = 1000 (one thousand)

In order to read modern dates comprised of Roman Numerals, you need to remember three main things. The first is that when you see two of the same values next to each other, you should add those values. For example, when you see I and I next to each other (II) you should add them I+I (or one plus one)=II or in other words, two. The second thing to remember is that if a greater value is followed by a smaller value, you should add the numbers. For example when a V is followed by an I, the two values should be added V+I (or five plus one)=VI or six. Finally, if a smaller value is followed by a greater value, you should subtract the smaller value from the larger. An example of this is when you see an I followed by a V, the smaller value is subtracted from the larger...meaning that V-I (five minus one)=IV or four.

Now for some modern Roman Numeral oddities. When used recently (1900's and above), a Roman Numeral's value is only used three times in succession which is why III = 3 (three), but IV = 4 (four). However, you will sometimes find IIII (four) used in place of IV on clocks..and can sometimes find it in dating with older (pre 1800's usually) books. The next oddity is that in some books your will find an I and a backwards "C". This generally occured from between the 1500's and 1600's and represents a D.

The listing below is based on the most commonly used dates of the period in which The Happy Hollisters series was written:

MCMLIII = 1953 (Nineteen fifty three)

MCMLIV = 1954 (Nineteen fifty four)

MCMLV = 1955 (Nineteen fifty five)

MCMLVI = 1956 (Nineteen fifty six)

MCMLVII = 1957 (Nineteen fifty seven)

MCMLVIII = 1958 (Nineteen fifty eight)

MCMLIX = 1959 (Ninteen fifty nine)

MCMLX = 1960 (Nineteen sixty)

MCMLXI = 1961 (Nineteen sixty one)

MCMLXII = 1962 (Nineteen sixty two)

MCMLXIII = 1963 (Nineteen sixty three)

MCMLXIV = 1964 (Nineteen sixty four)

MCMLXV = 1965 (Nineteen sixty five)

MCMLXVI = 1966 (Nineteen sixty six)

MCMLXVII = 1967 (Nineteen sixty seven)

MCMLXVIII = 1968 (Nineteen sixty eight)

MCMLXIX = 1969 (Nineteen sixty nine)

MCMLXX = 1970 (Ninteen seventy)

Best Wishes,
Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast
 Copyright notice: c. Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast
04091998REV10242002

Best Wishes,
Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast

* Owner - Happy-Hollisters.com
* Owner - GetFrugal.com
* Owner - WedFrugal.com
Site Created on: February 13, 1997 - Revised October 22, 2002

Original Writing & Original Graphics
Copyright, Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast
CREDITS: Bubble background from http://pageresources.tripod.com, 5 kids graphic below from http://barrysclipart.com, Icons from http://www.icomania.com/