Does Big Ben really use IIII instead of IV?
 

I saw the IIII on someone's clock in their home and they told me that Big Ben uses the same numeral. Am I being Had?

Someone is having a bit of fun with you.
Do a search on Google Images for Big Ben, and you will see it is IV

That was bugging the hell out of me!!

The answer's "no"

http://adamspiers.org/photos/hobbies...oseup.jpg.html

thanks Indy and sheila, I have been had! I just sent an email to my Brother with the web site link. Now I'm trying to think of a way to get even!!! Any suggestions?

Yes, but remember that Big Ben (yes, alright, the clock on Victoria Tower) is the oddity, not your friend's clock.

ost surviving English medieval clocks - and many Continental ones - use IIII. Indeed Pugin, the architect of the rebuilt Palace of Westminster, was seen as some kind of innovator for this strange choice.

And remember that "IV" is by no means normal in Roman inscriptions, where "IIII" (and "CCCC" and "XXXX") are by no means rare.

Try www.ubr.com/clocks/faq/iiii.html for further study

I could be wrong, but I remember being told that officially, "Big Ben" is the name of the largest bell (at 13 tons) inside the tower (there are five bells in the tower) and the tower itself is just called "The Clock Tower". The same foundry that made Big Ben is the same foundry that made the Liberty Bell. Of course, unofficially and affectionately, the entire tower is called "Big Ben".

flanneruk is right - IV is a relatively recent invention - or affectation.

I have a long case (grandfather to Americans) clock made in 1760 and it has IIII on the chapter ring.

Our antique long case (aka grandfather's) clock uses IIII also.