VDCCLVIII

VDCCLVIII is a nonstandard Roman numeral sequence that occasionally appears in decorative inscriptions, puzzles, or error-influenced texts. It does not conform to the formal rules of Roman numerals, notably the subtractive principle that governs how smaller symbols may precede larger ones. In standard Roman numerals, a V may not be placed before D to indicate subtraction, and the valid subtractive pairs are IV, IX, XL, XC, CD, and CM.

For numerical purposes, the sequence can be read additively as 5 + 500 + 100 + 100 + 50 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1, which equals 763. However, this value is normally represented in standard form as DCCLXIII.

VDCCLVIII has almost no role in formal numeration. Its appearances are typically typographical mistakes, stylistic deviations, or puzzle devices rather than accepted practice. When encountered in historical or scholarly contexts, it is often cited as an example of nonstandard notation and used to illustrate the importance of standardized Roman numeral rules.

See also: Roman numerals; Nonstandard numerals.