
                    **********************************
                          PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE 
                    RECORDS INFORMATION Leaflet No: 55
                    **********************************

  [Note: this and all other PRO Records Information leaflets are (c)
  Crown Copyright, but may be freely reproduced except for sale or
  advertising purposes.  Copies should always include this Copyright
  notice -- please respect this.]   (c) Crown Copyright, December 1985

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                         HOW TO READ ROMAN NUMERALS
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BASIC PRICIPLES

Big number followed by smaller number             ADD

Small number followed by bigger number            SUBTRACT small from big

Number followed by number of equal value          ADD

Small number with large number above              MULTIPLY


                               THUS

  I    or   j          =     1
  II   or   ij         =     2       (1+1)
  III   or   iij       =     3       (1+1+1)
  IIII  or  iiij  )                  (1+1+1+1)
        or        )    =     4         or
  IV              )                  (5-1)
  V                    =     5
  VI   or   vj         =     6       (5+1)
  VII   or   vij       =     7
  VIII   or  viij      =     8
  IX or viiij          =     9       (10-1) or (5+1+1+1+1)
  X                    =     10
  XI or xj             =     11      (10+1)
  XIX                  =     19      (10+(10-1))
  XX                   =     20      (10+10)
  XXX                  =     30      (10+10+10)
  XXXX   or   XL       =     40      (10+10+10+10) or (50-10)
  L                    =     50
  LX   or   lx         =     60      (50+10)
  LXX                  =     70      (50+10+10)
  LXXX or iiijxx       =     80      (50+10+10+10) or (4x20)
  LXXXX   or   XC      =     90      (50+10+10+10+10) or (100-10)
  XCIX or iiijxxxix    =     99      ((100-10)+(10-1)) or ((4x20)+10+(10-1)
  C                    =    100
  CI   or   cj         =    110      (100+1)
  CC                   =    200      (100+100)
  CCC                  =    300      (100+100+100)
  CCCC  or iiijc       =    400      (100+100+100+100) or (4x100)
  D                    =    500
  DC                   =    600      (500+100)
  M                    =    1000
  MDCCCCLXXXV          =    1985     (1000+500+100+100+100+100
     or                              +50+10+10+10+5)
  MCMLXXXV             =    1985     (1000+(100-100)+50+10+10+10+5)
   
   <BUT>
     Ml                =    1000     (mille)
   
  MM   or   MlMl       =    2000     (1000+1000) or (mille+mille)

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  Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LR.
  Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU.
  Tel: +44 (0) 181 876-3444

  Opening hours: 9.30am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Closed on public
  holidays and for annual Stocktaking (normally the first two full weeks
  in October). 

  Admission is by reader's ticket which will be issued on production of
  proof of identity, such as a (UK) driving licence or passport.
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