The Hindu-Arabic Numerals c12.64

c12.64

On the early use of these numerals in Europe the only scientific study worthy the name is that made by Mr. G. F. Hill of the British Museum.³ From his investigations it appears that the earliest occurrence of a date in these numerals on a coin is found in the reign of Roger of Sicily in 1138.⁴ Until recently it was thought that the earliest such date was 1217 a.d. for an Arabic piece and 1388 for a Turkish one.⁵ Most of the seals and medals containing dates that were at one time thought to be very early have been shown by Mr. Hill to be of relatively late workmanship. There are, however, in European manuscripts, numerous instances of the use of these numerals before the twelfth century. Besides the example in the Codex Vigilanus, another of the tenth century has been found in the St. Gall MS. now in the University Library at Zürich, the forms differing materially from those in the Spanish codex.