what number is vii
Thus I means 1, II means 2, III means 3. However, four strokes seemed like too many.... V. So the Romans moved on to the symbol for 5 - V. Placing I in front of the V  or placing any smaller number in front of any larger number  indicates subtraction. So IV means 4. After V comes a series of additions - VI means 6, VII means 7, VIII means 8. X.