Many yearly sobriety anniversary medallions use Roman numerals to show the number of years being celebrated. Use this guide to quickly match sobriety anniversary years 1 through 50 with their Roman numerals.

1-10 Years

11-20 Years

21-30 Years

31-40 Years

41-50 Years

Why Do Sobriety Medallions Use Roman Numerals?

Roman numerals have a long history of use on coins, medals, commemorative pieces, monuments, and anniversary designs. They are also commonly used on yearly sobriety anniversary medallions.

Roman numerals have appeared on raised-center AA anniversary medallion designs for many years. Sobriety medallions are produced by different manufacturers and are not standardized by AA World Services, so designs, wording, and numbering styles can vary.

How Do You Read Roman Numerals on a Sobriety Coin?

The main Roman numerals used on sobriety anniversary medallions through 50 years are:

When a smaller numeral follows a larger numeral, the values are usually added. For example, VIII equals 8.

When a smaller numeral appears before a larger numeral, it is usually subtracted. For example, IX equals 9, and XL equals 40.

You do not need to memorize the system to choose a sobriety medallion. The chart above shows the matching Roman numeral for every anniversary from 1 through 50 years.

Are Monthly Sobriety Coins Written in Roman Numerals?

Monthly recovery coins commonly use regular numbers for the number of months, while many yearly anniversary medallions use Roman numerals.

This can make monthly and yearly milestones easier to distinguish visually, but designs vary by manufacturer and recovery tradition. Roman numerals should not be assumed to have been originally chosen specifically for that purpose.

Which Sobriety Anniversary Medallion Should I Buy?

Buy the medallion for the number of full years of sobriety being celebrated on the anniversary date.

For example, someone with a sobriety date of September 20, 2021 completes 5 full years on September 20, 2026. The correct anniversary medallion is:

Shop Sobriety Anniversary Medallions

Once you know the correct anniversary year, choose the recovery program or medallion style you are shopping for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does V mean on a sobriety medallion?

V is the Roman numeral for 5. A sobriety medallion marked V represents a 5 Year sobriety anniversary.

What does X mean on a sobriety medallion?

X is the Roman numeral for 10. A sobriety medallion marked X represents a 10 Year sobriety anniversary.

What does XXV mean on a sobriety medallion?

XXV is the Roman numeral for 25. It represents a 25 Year sobriety anniversary.

What does XXX mean on a sobriety medallion?

XXX is the Roman numeral for 30. It represents a 30 Year sobriety anniversary.

What does XL mean on a sobriety medallion?

XL is the Roman numeral for 40. It represents a 40 Year sobriety anniversary.

What does L mean on a sobriety medallion?

L is the Roman numeral for 50. It represents a 50 Year sobriety anniversary.

Do I buy the sobriety year they completed or the year they are entering?

Buy the number of full years completed on the anniversary date. Someone celebrating 10 full years receives a 10 Year medallion marked X, even though they are beginning their eleventh year of sobriety.