Roman numerals — often searched as "Roman numbers" — write every number using seven letters: I, V, X, L, C, D and M, combined by addition and subtraction rules that haven't changed in two thousand years. Convert any date below — a wedding, a birthday, the day you met — and see it the way Rome would have carved it.
The Seven Symbols
The Five Rules
1. Add left to right. When symbols descend in value, add them: VI = 5 + 1 = 6. XV = 10 + 5 = 15. VII = 7.
2. Subtract when smaller comes first. A smaller symbol before a larger one subtracts: IV = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, CM = 900.
3. Repeat up to three times. III = 3, XXX = 30 — but never four in a row. 4 is IV, not IIII (with one famous exception below).
4. Only I, X and C subtract. And only from the next two steps up: I before V or X; X before L or C; C before D or M.
5. V, L and D never repeat and never subtract. There is no VV or LC — each appears at most once.
Roman Numerals 1 to 100
Every number from 1 to 100 — the fastest way to look one up or decode what you're reading.
Years People Engrave
A Date Worth Wearing
The dates people convert here are rarely random — a wedding, a birth, an anniversary. At Glamour Jewelry House we make personalized jewelry in 18K gold vermeil on a 925 sterling silver base — hypoallergenic, water-resistant, made in Miami, rated 4.77/5 by 21,000+ customers — including pieces personalized with the names and dates that matter to you.
Shop Personalized NecklacesFrequently Asked Questions
How do you read Roman numerals?
Read left to right, adding symbols as they descend in value — and subtracting when a smaller symbol comes before a larger one. Take MCMLXXXIV: M (1000) + CM (900) + LXXX (80) + IV (4) = 1984. With the seven symbols and two moves — add and subtract — you can read any of them.
What is VII in Roman numerals?
VII is 7 — V (5) + I + I. The neighbors: VI is 6, VIII is 8, and IX is 9 (subtraction: 1 before 10). VII is one of the most-engraved numerals on jewelry because of July, the 7th month, and lucky number seven.
What is XL in Roman numerals?
XL is 40 — X (10) subtracted from L (50). The same pattern gives you XC for 90, CD for 400, and CM for 900.
What is 2026 in Roman numerals?
2026 is MMXXVI — MM (2000) + XX (20) + VI (6). Use the converter above for any other year.
What is 1984 in Roman numerals?
1984 is MCMLXXXIV: M (1000) + CM (900) + LXXX (80) + IV (4). It's a classic example because it uses both subtraction pairs, CM and IV.
How do you write a full date in Roman numerals?
Convert the month, day and year separately, then join them with a separator — for example, 06·15·2024 becomes VI·XV·MMXXIV. On jewelry, dots and dashes are the most common separators.
Is there a zero in Roman numerals?
No. The system predates the concept of zero as a numeral — Romans wrote 'nulla' (nothing) in words when needed. Numbers on this converter run from 1 to 3,999, the standard range.
Can you write negative numbers with Roman numerals?
No — the system has no notation for negative numbers (or zero, or fractions beyond a few special symbols). Roman numerals were built for counting and recording, not arithmetic, which is exactly why Europe eventually adopted Arabic numerals for math.
Why do clocks show IIII instead of IV?
Tradition. Many clock faces use IIII for 4 — partly for visual symmetry with VIII on the opposite side, a convention dating back centuries. Everywhere else, IV is correct.
What's the largest number Roman numerals can write?
With the standard seven symbols, 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX). Romans used an overline (a vinculum) to multiply symbols by 1,000 for larger values, but that's rarely seen outside inscriptions.
