I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII / Aᵒ Dᴵ MDCCC LXXIX

Clock on the Ridderzaal in The Hague from 1879.

The clock face uses regular Roman numerals for the hours, where X = 10, V = 5, I = 1, and numerals are added, except for lower numerals before higher numerals, which are subtracted. For instance, the number 4 is represented by Roman number IV (5 - 1 = 4).

The abbreviation Aᵒ Dᴵ stands for 'Anno Domini' which is Latin for 'in the year of the Lord'. The Roman number MDCCCLXXIX stands for 1879, where M = 1000, D = 500, C = 100, L = 50, X = 10, and I = 1. The letter L has an unusual shape, but can be understood from the context.

Place map: 's-Gravenhage