On the way to work this morning, I saw a sign: this building was erected in MCMXXVI.

I think M=1,000 C=100, if before another M, it becomes negative -100, so MCM is 1900. X=10, V=5, I is 1. So I read MCMXXVI as 1926, is this correct?

It is 1926

At google, do:
MCMXXVI in arabic -- gives 1926
1926 in roman -- gives MCMXXVI

(I tried this on a whim and it worked.)
Paul

Oh, so I still remember what they taught me at school... too many years ago Thank you, both!

Yes, 1926.

Congratulations, but do you know what means in ancient roman the letter "D" ?

D= 500, L = 50

Exactly.

I wonder if most elementary schools still teach about Roman numerals? Great post FainaAgain...

I went to school in the USSR, they taught us roman numerals, but not many students would remember that. I just like numbers and work in accounting. Besides, I am Jewish, and in Hebrew numbers correspond with letters.

I lerned in school in Romania, and there they teached us the Roman numbers. I remember that we wrote the date like 4-VII-1999 for July 4th 1999.

Faina, you are great! I live now in Israel, but for me is difficult to use the letter as numbers! I use the letters (as all the people here for the days of the week).