Nicomachus: a Roman numeral font
Nicomachus is a Roman numeral font for the Macintosh which includes horizontal bars above and below the numerals. It does not translate between Arabic numerals and Roman numerals - that is left for the user. The basic rules for writing Roman numerals are:
M = 1000
D = 500
C = 100
L = 50
X = 10
V = 5
I = 1
You create Roman numerals by adding numerals together from highest to lowest, using as few numerals as possible. So 1500 is MD, not DDD.
In general, you don't want to use more than three of a particular numeral in a row. Instead, you can write a lower numeral before a higher numeral, indicating that the first numeral should be subtracted from the second. So 4 is IV, not IIII. 1900 is MCM. The order of the numerals is important: LX is 60, but XL is 40. This reversal is only used to avoid having four of a numeral in a row; you wouldn't write IIX to indicate 8. (In fact, IIX would be meaningless.) 8 would simply be VIII.
The number system can be extended using an additional bar over a numeral to indicate that the numeral is actually 1000 times the normal numeral. So 5000 would be V with an additional bar over the V. In Nicomachus, underline has been redefined to be a line over a numeral. Depending on the word processor, this may not show up on the screen, but it should print properly. You can use option-space to get a space with continuing bars; this can help if the underline doesn't extend far enough before or after a numeral or if you want to spread numerals apart a bit while still having the horizontal bars connect.
There are two TrueType fonts: Nicomachus and Nicomachus-Alternate, which uses thinner horizontal bars. Both fonts are designed to be similar to Times or Times New Roman.
If you find Nicomachus useful, please make a donation to your local rape crisis center or homeless shelter. Please also send e-mail to michael@cascadilla.com with any comments or suggestions.
We retain the copyright on Nicomachus; it may not be redistributed without prior written consent from Cascadilla Press. This means that you shouldn't give the font to your friends, though they can get their own copies at http://www.cascadilla.com/michael/nico.html. We do not provide any warranty or support for Nicomachus.
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