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According to this proposal, it would be a syntax error.

Variable names aren't allowed to start with numbers.

You wouldn't expect to name a variable 15D5 would you?

Neither should MIC.

from the proposal:

> Any literal composed entirely of M, D, C, L, X, V and I characters that does not follow this format will raise a syntax error, because explicit is better than implicit.

But “I” will only ever occur to the left of a “V” or an “X”, never before a “D“. If “I” could occur to the left of a “D“, “MID” would mean 1499, but the proper way to write 1499 is “MCDXCIX”.

So you agree that it would raise a syntax error?

Why it's totally legit 1000 + ( 100 - 1 ) == 1099

You cannot subtract 1 directly from 100, so you need to do 1000 + (100 - 10) + (10 - 1) = MXCIX

> You cannot subtract 1 directly from 100

There isn't a standard for Roman numerals; you can largely do what you want. The Eighteenth Legion used XIIX.

But MIDI is obviously invalid by any standard.