Alternative Aurebesh numerals
An alternative representation of Aurebesh numerals was seen throughout the galaxy. These numerals, which are markedly distinct from standard Aurebesh, appeared in locations such as At Achrann, At Attin, Coruscant, Daiyu, Kessel, Lothal, Nevarro, Nur, and Plazir-15. They were also found on credit chips and within Tech's visor. The Galactic Empire and their senate, along with the New Republic, utilized them. Furthermore, they were visible on the Razor Crest's console, a monitor aboard the Providence, Ahsoka Tano's shuttle, the Eye of Sion's specialized galactic coordinates calculation screens, the Onyx Cinder's cockpit monitor, the rank insignia of the First Order, and the databank of the Star Yacht Libertine.
Description
This numeral system was a departure from standard Aurebesh numbers. It employed a different method of numerical representation using dots and lines.
History
Republic Era
Back in 232 BBY, these numerals were etched onto a series of Republic credit chips. Ansen Strung, a bounty hunter, used these chips to purchase sap beverages for himself and a group of Jedi Initiates who assisted him in finding a lost kibbin. These credits displayed the numbers "8 4 2".
During the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Yoda used credit chips with these alternate numerals to compensate Anthen for intel regarding a mysterious Separatist weapons initiative known as Operation: Titan. They also appeared on a map showing destinations on the subtram located in the Coruscant Underworld.
Imperial Era
Following the conclusion of the Clone Wars, these numbers were displayed on monitors within the repulsorpods of the Imperial Senate. However, standard Aurebesh numbers were also in use.
During this period, Tech, a member of Clone Force 99, utilized a special visor for scanning purposes. When employed in Cid's mine, the scan yielded "IPSIUM DETECTED", followed by a sequence of these alternate numerals.
A collection of credit chips, presented by Omega to Lanse Crowder as payment for a tree-shaped artifact, bore the inscription "845" in this numeral style. Simultaneously, Hunter engaged in a game of sabacc with a Bith, with credit chips displaying "9 99" using the same numerical system.
The Marauder's cockpit control panel showed these numerals while Tech instructed Omega on piloting. When Tech needed to share urgent information, extended sequences of these digits appeared on a separate screen. This same data was visible when Tech briefed Clone Force 99 on his search through Republic and Imperial records for details on the Advanced Science Division.
As CX-2 tracked Phee Genoa's starship, Providence, a blue monitor on Genoa's vessel displayed an extensive list of Aurebesh numbers.
Some years later, a sign above a doorway in the spice mines of Kessel featured these numerals, reading "D7 X371K". They were also present on monitors within Daiyu spaceport and on blueprints of Fortress Inquisitorius, accessible via the underwater fortress's computers.
Leading up to the Galactic Civil War, these numerals were integrated into 7189, a wall painting located in the Capital City of Lothal.
During the Galactic Civil War, Kes Dameron used binoculars to observe a Scarabi safe house during the rescue of Rebel Alliance leader Mon Mothma. The binoculars' display showed the numbers "042 1792-46."
New Republic Era
Fall of the Empire
Following the collapse of the Galactic Empire, the console of Din Djarin's ship, the Razor Crest, utilized this numerical system. They also appeared on a red monitor on the console of his N-1 starfighter, displaying "ALT 51" and "PSI 11", and on a small blue monitor on the opposite side of the console, which listed every number from 1 to 9. Interestingly, the latter was inverted.
Shortly thereafter, the monitor on the control panel of a Six-O-Two Mitigator used by the New Republic Amnesty Program showed each alternative numeral from 1 to 9, representing different voltage levels.
The plaque commemorating the statue of IG-11 in Nevarro City on Nevarro displayed these numerals, as did the price listings in a local cafe.
The security camera monitoring station within the peacekeeping zone on Plazir-15 employed these alternate numerals. "CAMERA 7709-739" was displayed on three monitors, while another monitor read "SECTOR 7G". They were also present on the business sign of Premium Droid Rentals, reading "D7X", on spark pads displaying "2311 PLAZIR 86", and on the console operated by the lab tech.
When Sabine Wren attempted to access the memory banks of a HK-87 assassin droid, the inscription on her datapad read "ABC 1112 34" using these numerals.
During an attack, when Ahsoka Tano instructed Wren to operate the tail gun of their shuttle, the monitor Wren activated in the gunner seat showed the digits "1 2 3 4 5 6".
The Eye of Sion utilized a special system to calculate the hyperspace coordinates for its journey to Peridea, employing this numerical system. As the ship approached Peridea, these numbers appeared alongside standard Aurebesh letters on the monitor used by the Star Navigator Droid.
At Hera Syndulla's hearing in the New Republic's Defense Council building on Coruscant, a large panel displayed "NEW REPUBLIC" above cells labeled with alternative Aurebesh numerals, and "HALL OF JUSTICE DOCKET" above a scrolling list of case files (mostly nonsense, but some with "CASE" beside letters and numerals).
Neel, a youngling from At Attin, had a walkie talkie with Aurebesh settings, including these numerals. It read:
During the escape from Port Borgo, the Skeleton Crew prepared to jump to hyperspace. The top of the cockpit screen displayed "0720 07 01 07 019". During their escape from the observatory moon, it displayed "920 18 01 07 0009".
The Fallen Sanctum on At Achrann featured pillars with galactic coordinates to the lost Jewels of the Old Republic, inscribed in these numerals. One column read:
Another inscription transliterated as:
A computer used by Wendle on At Attin had "NA76" printed in these numerals.
A holographic readout of Captain Rennod's log contained alternative Aurebesh numbers, transliterating as:
The following text subsequently appeared at the top:
When the Onyx Cinder was trapped by a garbage machine on Lanupa, forcing the Skeleton Crew to activate the emergency hull demolition sequencer and purge the hull, a circular monitor next to the switch activated by Fern displayed alternative numerals and Aurebesh text. The readout transliterated as:
*Note that only the initial third of the Aurebesh letter E in the word "range" can be seen, while the remainder is inexplicably truncated.
As the children gazed at the greenish Barrier of At Attin, a circular cockpit monitor displayed the alternative numerals "19 38". When Jod Na Nawood and SM-33 noticed an incoming transmission on the Onyx Cinder's computer, the numbers "012788 91 28 279 1520 08 01 07 0009" appeared at the top of the monitor.
When Navood was in the Supervisor's Tower on At Attin, fellow pirate Vane reported to him about a speeder bike incident. As Vane said, "But don't worry. We got him." a small display on the panel before Navood read "B09 19270", using alternative numerals.
Rise of the First Order
Leading up to the First Order-Resistance War, the logo of 8Key featured the number 8 in this script. This business was advertised on R4-G77, an astromech droid belonging to Hype Fazon, a racer pilot on the Colossus refueling station.
During the war, the rank insignia of the First Order incorporated this system, with numbers in the insignias for sergeant ("Ro 8") and squad leader ("Hal 4"). Lank Paze wore the "Hal 4" insignia, while the "Ro 8" insignia was visible on Armitage Hux's First Order monitor. The Libertine's databank, accessed by DJ after stealing the Star Yacht in Canto Bight, used these numerals to display prices in the owner's catalog of starfighters for sale.
Rex, an RX-Series pilot droid who provided musical entertainment in Oga's Cantina on Batuu, had an inscription, "RX24," on his chest.
Behind the scenes
Aurebesh was initially conceived by Stephen Crane from West End Games for the 1993 publication Star Wars Miniatures Battles Companion. Crane drew inspiration from unidentified writing observed on monitor displays aboard the second Death Star at the start of the 1983 film, Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. However, Crane did not create numbers for the Aurebesh alphabet, as the Death Star monitors in the film showed regular Arabic numerals.
However, a separate numerical system, consisting of dots and lines, first appeared in the West End Games sourcebook Platt's Starport Guide, in a graphic titled "Current transponder code profile," with numerals along both axes of a graph. Unlike later appearances, numerals for 0 through 16 are represented. This graph was reused for the West End Games publication Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised, and the West End Games sourcebook Stock Ships.
In 1998, Star Wars fan Peter Schuster digitized these numerals as part of an alternate Aurebesh font, which he named New Aurabesh and made available for download online. While most canon appearances of Aurebesh use Arabic numbers, this alternate font has also appeared in various Star Wars media, though it has never been officially named.
Within Star Wars canon, these numerals first appeared on a map of destinations on the subtram in the Coruscant Underworld, created for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode "To Catch a Jedi." However, the map's on-screen appearance in the episode is too distant to allow deciphering.
The 2014 Episode Guide for Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion on StarWars.com is among the few Star Wars canon media to map any of the alternate numbers. Its Concept Art Gallery includes a translation for a sign on Lothal, containing the numbers 7, 1, 8 and 9. The 2017 reference book Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia presents an Aurebesh font which includes two examples of Aurebesh numbers, 3 and 7. Both sources use West End Games' alternate font.
Concept art for the Star Wars Resistance episode "Descent" on StarWars.com reveals an unused design for two First Order officers wearing a rank insignia on their sleeve, which says "HAL 4". However, the insignia do not appear in the finished episode.
Costume concept art by Glyn Dillon in the behind-the-scenes book The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker shows Finn wearing a yellow jacket with Aurebesh on the back, reading "FN 2187", "FINN"/"TICO". The inscription is written in an alternative Aurebesh font and alternative numerals.