the number four in some roman clocks can also be written as IIII instead of IV

This is an interesting historical peculiarity. On some ancient Roman clocks and certain historic contexts, the number four can indeed be written as "IIII" instead of the more conventional "IV." The reason for this is not entirely clear, but there are a few theories:

1. Clocks: On clock faces, especially on older ones, you might see "IIII" instead of "IV" for the hour marking. This could be due to aesthetic balance or symmetry considerations, where using four "I"s creates a more visually balanced appearance.

2. Misinterpretation: Another theory suggests that this might have been a misunderstanding or a mistake that became perpetuated. Some historians speculate that because Romans often started counting from one (unlike modern times where we start from zero), they might have used "IIII" to represent the fourth hour or unit to maintain consistency in their counting system.

3. Tradition: In some cases, it may simply be a matter of tradition or local preference that continued despite the more logical "IV" being the standard in other contexts.

4. Different Standards: It's also possible that different regions or craftsmen had their own variations in how they used Roman numerals.

It's important to note that "IIII" for the number four is not the standard form in Roman numerals and is mostly seen in specific contexts like old clocks or certain historical artifacts. In most formal and modern uses, "IV" is the correct representation for the number four.