Roman numerals on modern coins

[<k>]

Slovakia, 50 korun, 1944.

The wartime state of Slovakia was a Nazi puppet state.

It declared its "independence" on the 14th March, 1939.


This coin celebrated its fifth anniversary.

The dates show a curious mixture of modern and Roman numerals.

The figures "III" represent the month of March.

[brandm24]

The classic style of the St. Gauden's Double Eagle gold. Minted 1907-1933. All dates in Roman numerals.

Bruce
 

[chrisild]

Here is a "Vacant See" coin from the Vatican (MMV = 2005). Actually VA issued an entire eight-coin set on that occasion; should not have happened, so the rules became clearer thereafter ...



The GDR also used Roman numerals on two "country anniversary" coins, one in 1969 ("XX" years) and one in 1974 ("XXV" years). The Federal Republic occasionally has them, for example on some pieces issued for the "XXth" Munich Olympics in 1972.

Switzerland resorted to such numerals in the 1940s, not for the face value, not for the year of issue, but for the year of reference so to say. The Battle of Laupen for example was in 1339; the actual year is "1939" but you also see MCCCXXXIX = 1339. In 1944 and 1948 it was done similarly.

And then ... this is not actually a modern coin but a Nürnberg piece from 1717 commemorating 200 years since the 1517 Lutheran Reformation. You read "Martin Luther, Doctor of Theology", but if you add the larger characters, you get M I V L V V L I D C = 1717. Not really a Roman number but a combination of numerals. "Hiding" numbers in text that way was somewhat common on older houses, but rare on coins.

[Figleaf]

"Hiding" numbers in text that way was somewhat common on older houses, but rare on coins.

It was done more often on commemorative medals and once in a while on counters.

Peter