Re: Unnumbered.

2
The four suits and the Fou generally do stand without need for number.

With the Fou (or Mat) there may be various considerations. With the pips, however, it is even simpler: the number is actually given by the number of implements.

Perhaps a better question is why, in some cases, actually bother to add a (Roman) numeral on the pips given that this is already clearly displayed!?
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association.tarotstudies.org

Re: Unnumbered.

3
-Forgive me JMD may be I was not clear at all.

1-LE MAT is unnumbered as Aces and DENIERS
2-Simple negligence ?
3-Also the game players could count BATON or EPEE or COUPE.
4-BTW,why on Jean Dodal the seven de COUPE is unnumbered ?
Simple negligence ?

:?:
The Universe is like a Mamushka.

Re: Unnumbered.

4
jmd wrote: Perhaps a better question is why, in some cases, actually bother to add a (Roman) numeral on the pips given that this is already clearly displayed!?
I throw in my contribution and my guess.

Which is that Tarot cards, regardless of whether they were originally intended as such or not, were seen recognised as a useful way to practise a form of divination, i.e. a form of arithmancy combined with image symbolism.