MMMCXCVI

MMMCXCVI is a Roman numeral representing the number 3,996 in the ancient Roman numbering system. Roman numerals are a numeral system originating from ancient Rome, utilizing combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to signify values. The numeral MMMCXCVI is composed of the letters M, M, M, C, X, C, V, and I, each representing specific values: M (1,000), C (100), X (10), and V (5).

The numeral is constructed by adding the values of its constituent letters. Three M's represent 3,000 (3 × 1,000), while the remaining letters—CXCVI—represent 96 (90 + 5 + 1). The combination of letters follows specific rules, such as subtractive notation, where a smaller numeral before a larger one indicates subtraction (e.g., CM for 900, IX for 9). In MMMCXCVI, CX represents 90 (100 - 10), and IV represents 4 (5 - 1), though in this case, the numeral is broken down as 90 + 5 + 1.

Roman numerals were widely used in Europe until the late Middle Ages, particularly for official documents, monumental inscriptions, and clock faces. They remain in use today for certain formal or decorative contexts, such as copyright dates on films or in typography. The system is also occasionally referenced in modern culture, education, and historical studies to illustrate numerical conventions of antiquity.