Roman Numeral Date Converter
July 4, 1994 as a Roman numeral date is VII.IV.MCMXCIV: month VII, day IV, year MCMXCIV.
Date in Roman numerals
- Each part
- month 7 = VII, day 4 = IV, year 1994 = MCMXCIV
- Month, day, year (US order)
- VII.IV.MCMXCIV
- Day, month, year
- IV.VII.MCMXCIV
- Year, month, day
- MCMXCIV.VII.IV
- With other separators
- VII - IV - MCMXCIV VII / IV / MCMXCIV VII IV MCMXCIV
- With a two-digit year 94 written as XCIV. Shorter, and ambiguous about the century.
- VII.IV.XCIV
- How MCMXCIV is built
- M (1,000) + CM (900) + XC (90) + IV (4) = 1,994
- Each part of the date is a separate number, so each is converted on its own. There is no zero in the system, which is why leading zeros (07 for July) simply disappear.
How the Roman Numeral Converter works
A date in Roman numerals is three numbers converted separately: the month, the day and the year, each as its own numeral, joined with dots, dashes or spaces. Nothing in the numerals marks which part is which, so the order is whatever the reader expects.
Worked example: July 4, 1994. July is the 7th month, VII. The 4th is IV. 1994 is M (1,000) + CM (900) + XC (90) + IV (4), MCMXCIV. In US order that is VII.IV.MCMXCIV; day first, as most of Europe writes dates, IV.VII.MCMXCIV; and year first, MCMXCIV.VII.IV.
Leading zeros vanish. 07 is just 7, because there is no zero to write. For the same reason a year ending in 00 cannot be shortened: 2000 is MM, and the two-digit 00 has no numeral at all. Other two-digit years work: 94 is XCIV, giving VII.IV.XCIV, shorter but silent about the century.
Before a birthday in Roman numerals goes on skin or metal, check two things. First the order: IV.VII.MCMXCIV means April 7 to an American reader. Second the year, which is most of the length and most of the risk: 1999 is MCMXCIX, not MIM, and 1990 is MCMXC. Every year from 2000 to 2009 starts MM, and 2026 is MMXXVI.
Numbering the days at all is a modern habit. The Romans named each day by counting down to the next Kalends, Nones or Ides of the month, so a Roman numerals date converter is writing modern dates in ancient symbols.
Roman Numeral Converter FAQ
How do I write my birthday in Roman numerals?
Convert the month, the day and the year separately and join them in the order you use. A birthday of March 15, 2001 is III.XV.MMI in US order and XV.III.MMI day first.
How do you write 1999 in Roman numerals?
MCMXCIX: M (1,000) + CM (900) + XC (90) + IX (9). MIM is a common shortcut and is not standard, because I may only stand before V and X.
Should a Roman numeral date use dots or dashes?
Either works, and so do slashes or spaces. A dash between numerals can be mistaken for a minus sign, which dots avoid. Whatever the separator, keep the same one between all three parts.