Favourite Figures?

Niche.
Niche. Posts: 86
in History of Typography
Just trying to grow my collection of (in my opinion) the best figures. This subject is subjective because one could argue that a typeface is also representational of it's figures, but I'm looking for everyone's option on what they think are the most beautiful set of figures (it doesn't have to be a complete typeface) here is my list so far! 



I love a nice scotch set of figures! What does everyone else fancy‽
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  • Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian
    Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian Posts: 2,044
    edited October 2017
    I like:
    — Rational contrast distribution sans wonky thin verticals and thick horizontals.*
    — OS numerals where the "3" and "5" (and even the "2") ascend.
    — In contrasted fonts I like OS zeros that are thick only on the left.
    — Minor: for a slashed zero I like the slash to be a backslash.

    BTW, the "5" always comes out the sexiest. Examples upon request.

    * Look at the work of Catich, Harvey, Gürtler, Bouwsma, Jelesijevic... and yours truly.
  • [Deleted User]
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  • Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian
    Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian Posts: 2,044
    edited October 2017
    I see your Casio and I raise you Soviet:

    James Montalbano said:
    Come dite la merda infuriate in vostro linguaggio?
    Շատ մի խարներ՝ քաքը կ'ելլէ:
  • Simon Cozens
    Simon Cozens Posts: 740
    edited October 2017
    Related:

    Saw this stamp in an old @NOLALibrary book and am curious about why the 7s are the way that they are. Surely you library or font nerds know. pic.twitter.com/8VWMaJZ6nA

    — Kevin
  • Scott-Martin Kosofsky
    Scott-Martin Kosofsky Posts: 422
    These are the figures in Matthew Carter's Mantinia font. The letters inspired by the lettering of Andrea da Mantegna and the inscriptions on facades of the Boston Public Library. The figures are entirely original and exceedingly handsome.
  • Ray Larabie
    Ray Larabie Posts: 1,431
    Anyway, I should have mentioned why these are my favorite numerals these days. I think that particular configuration produces the most beautiful segmented figures I've ever seen. Sure I can find lots of quirky segmented digits but these are, in my opinion, as good as it gets. The 2, 3, 5 and 9 end up with a tidy, square end on the bottom. The left side of the four is square and short while the right is high and chamfered. It's too bad they didn't use matching numerals on the top. The leftmost numeral is narrower which is only an issue on the stopwatch, timer or after 8pm in 24h format. The bottom matrix can display the day of the week in kanji too. I threw a NATO strap on mine.
  • Jens Kutilek
    Jens Kutilek Posts: 361
    I’m quite fond of these numerals from my mom’s 1970s typewriter:


  • Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian
    Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian Posts: 2,044
    Hybrid nums rule.
  • Niche.
    Niche. Posts: 86
    ITC Modern no. 216 is also quite beautiful.



    I think @Nick Shinn Scotch Modern a little more cheerful, what was the restoration based on? I wish I had more knowledge of historical restorations—but can I assume they were similar specimens?—Or am I way off? I guess that begs to ask, was Benguiat's based on a historical rational serif or his own iteration...? 
  • Niche.
    Niche. Posts: 86

    Hrant H. Papazian said:
    I like:
    — Rational contrast distribution sans wonky thin verticals and thick horizontals.*




    Something like this? 
  • Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian
    Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian Posts: 2,044
    No, mind that "sans" (= without). Like this, from Harvey's Strayhorn:
  • Nick Shinn
    Nick Shinn Posts: 2,207
    Simon, here is a page from the book, published in Albany, New York, in 1873, from which I restored the Scotch Modern. A scientific work, which proved very useful in providing a large sort of characters! I haven’t come across this particular cut in any type foundry specimen, but it appears to be exemplary of a style that is quite generic. 

  • Niche.
    Niche. Posts: 86
    Found a beauty today whilst doing research. 


  • Scott-Martin Kosofsky
    Scott-Martin Kosofsky Posts: 422

    Sorry, John, but it appears to me that these figures are struggling to find their balance. The generous lower stories of the 3 and especially the 5 seem out of balance with the 6 and the 9. Yet, in the example 1297, the 9 seems quite wide, indeed. The foot joint of the 2 is too acute, perhaps because the upper part isn’t wide enough (it duplicates the upper story of the 3, which is unusual and, I think, undesirable—note the differentiations in the Modern faces, above, and in most other types). The open-top 4 is suggestive of italic figures in the Fournier style, though in that era it was often the custom to make the italic 5 an ascending figure, which provided better balance for it.

  • Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian
    Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian Posts: 2,044
    edited October 2017
    Maybe numerals are best when unlike. Even more so than letters. I would make that zero less of an "o" though (for example by making it thick only on one side, probably the left).
  • Craig Eliason
    Craig Eliason Posts: 1,436
    There's a tipping point in the increase of the extender space where the normally elegant ranging figures become very difficult to balance. 
  • SiDaniels
    SiDaniels Posts: 277
    I like the Tamil numbers the best...  ௦௧௨௩௪௫௬௭௮௯
  • Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian
    Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian Posts: 2,044
    Another designer of numerals with "rational" weight distribution:
    https://www.myfonts.com/fonts/typesketchbook/morl/
  • Peiran Tan
    Peiran Tan Posts: 22
    My newest crush is Typoart Garamond, roman upright:



    ... and generally any oldstyle 5 with its flag tilted up.

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