Number in Suits?

[Knight of Wands]

Heya

I recently got the Grimaud Marseille, and was wondering why in the Suits, it says the number (II, III, IIII etc) on every suit, except Deniers!

Can anyone clue me in?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jmd]

The 'why' is a tough question.

I have at times wondered some of the likely reasons for the same. Once you get used to the cards, those small numbers are totally useless, as one can 'instantly' see the number of Batons or Swords (for example).

At first, it may help somewhat with those two suits.

The Cups and Deniers (Coins) each have, however, a visual similarity to what may be described as dice or dominos, and as each implement (coin or cup) is distinct, there is also an 'easier' recognition as to how many are depicted.

Perhaps it is simply that: apart from especially the suit of Deniers that has an ease of quick recognition for the number represented, the others are aides to visual number recognition.

 

[Knight of Wands]

Thanks jmd

 

[Fulgour]

an unnecessary convention

Shakespeare's plays are divided into Acts & Scenes
but he never wrote them that way ~ it was added.