# WHO do clocks with Roman numerals use "IIII" instead of "IV"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-clocks-with-roman-numerals-use-iiii-instead-of-iv/280839>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [December 20, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-clocks-with-roman-numerals-use-iiii-instead-of-iv/280839 "2004-12-20T19:28:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rappo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@rappo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rappo)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-clocks-with-roman-numerals-use-iiii-instead-of-iv/280839/1 "2004-12-20T19:28:24Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Who do clocks with Roman numerals use “IIII” instead of “IV”?

Should be “WHY do clocks with …”, not who.

[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_153.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_153.html)

That is all, I have nothing important to say… 😃

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**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-clocks-with-roman-numerals-use-iiii-instead-of-iv/280839/2 "2004-12-21T01:24:57Z")

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_ZOTT-I!!_

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**Author:** ![Xiphos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/48db29/32.png) [@Xiphos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xiphos)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-clocks-with-roman-numerals-use-iiii-instead-of-iv/280839/3 "2004-12-21T08:25:34Z")

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I was suprised not to hear the legend of the french clock maker repeated.

Apparently, one of the medieval french kings designed a clockface and showed it to a clockmaker. The king was so offended when it was pointed out that he’d got the 4 wrong, he had the clockmaker executed. Wise clockmakers have used IIII ever since.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-clocks-with-roman-numerals-use-iiii-instead-of-iv/280839/4 "2004-12-21T16:35:39Z")

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Gremlins, gremlins, I tells you!

Not sure how that happened (I’m still betting on gremlins), but it’s fixed.

your humble TubaDiva  
Administrator