Why is the Roman numeral "IV" written "IIII" on clock dials?

Question

Why is the Roman numeral "IV" written "IIII" on clock dials?

Answer 1

IIII" is a valid way to write 4 in Roman numerals, but the tradition of its use on clock dials has mostly to do with visual balance. If it were written as "IV", you would have IV and V on the lower right side of the dial and VII and VIII on the lower left. Visually, it would look like the dial wanted to roll to the left -- it would be lopsided. The IIII helps maintain balance. Some clocks do use IV -- The most famous is the clock in London's Palace of Westminster, often referred to as "Big Ben" (although that moniker rightly refers to the largest bell in the clock tower).

Answer 2

I thought IV on a clock was a dot.

Answer 3

Gee, I'd never noticed! My grandfather clock does, in fact, have "IIII"; my little coach clock has "IV".

Answer 4

the people making the clocks weren't Roman, they were not very smart either.

Answer 5

it is sometimes allowable to place a smaller, subtractive, symbol before a larger value, so that, for example, one may write IV or iv for four, rather than IIII.