Stephen Chrisomalis wrote:

> 2) The use of Roman numerals is far more widespread than the
> Maya numerals
> are:
> i) numbering of kings, popes, movie titles, world wars,
> Olympiads, Super
> Bowls, etc.
> ii) Roman numeral clocks and watches

This point could be extended to all instances of Roman numerals used as
deliberate archaism. This would then include inscriptions in public places
where years or other numbers are in Roman numerals. This is often associated
with other archaisms, such as the use of all capitals and "V" standing for
"U".

> iii) copyright dates on filmed productions
> iv) pagination (usu. prefatory)
> v) enumeration in ordinal lists, usu. for sub-sections
> (like this one)

I would add one point:

vi) To represent some lexical or grammatical difference.

This usage is quite unusual in English but is common in other languages.
E.g., in Italian, Roman numerals are read as ordinal numbers (first, second,
third...), while Arabic numerals are read as cardinal numbers (one, two,
three...).

(Nowadays, this convention is less common, as ordinal numbers are often
written as Arabic numerals followed by the º and ª symbols.)

Notice that this is different from your point (4) (distinguishing two sets
of counted things). E.g., in Italian, the ordinal number is used for the
first day of each month, while cardinals are used for all other days: "I
dicembre", "2 dicembre", ..., "31 dicembre".

It is this usage of Roman numerals that made me think that Maya numeral
symbols could have been revived for serving a similar purpose of lexical
differentiation: representing in writing the spoken distinction between
Spanish-derived numbers and genuine Maya numbers.

But of course, this is speculation on speculation on speculation... As you
say, some fresh information would be needed.

_ Marco