How Long Has 110 Actually Been Around?
The year 110 is often considered to be a transitional year in the history of odds. In fact, back to the beginning of this year, the decimal point was removed from all US coin values, making cents and dimes and nickels and pennies worth exactly the same as the dollar. What’s more is that the first issue of the Lincoln Penny was minted in 1915, making it the first official year of the coin’s existence.
For quite some time after this monumental event, people around the world struggled to come up with an appropriate name for the new denomination. Finally, in 1922, the name “cent” was chosen and used officially from that point forward.
What Is the Meaning of 110?
There are numerous theories as to the meaning of the number 110. For starters, it was supposedly chosen as the atomic number of a hypothetical element called “Ununseptium”, which would be located in the middle of the Periodic Table. However, this element does not yet exist in nature, and was therefore never isolated or produced in significant quantities.
Another popular theory contends that the number 110 is actually a codename for the Manhattan Project, which was the code name for the effort to build the first atomic bomb during the Second World War. The number is also said to stand for “Niagara Falls”, which is the collective name for the Horseshoe falls in Ontario, Canada. This theory stems from the fact that the Niagara river has regularly flooded its banks since 1762, creating massive amounts of muddy water that looks a lot like the waters of a nuclear reactor.
Why Is 110 Considered “Good Luck”?
It is generally accepted that the number 110 is considered to be very, very lucky. This is especially the case if the number appears in a lottery winning combination. The odds of winning the lottery are 1 in 10^110. To put this in perspective, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 365 million. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 176.7 million.
What is the origin of this extraordinary luck in the number 110? Well, if you believe the legends, a certain King George II of Great Britain is responsible for this incredible fortune. It is said that one day, while playing cards with his royal guest, the British monarch noticed that the young man was repeatedly drawing the number 110 in the sand, thus “fixing” the number in his head. Since that day, whenever the royal guest saw the number, he would inevitably win the pot. It was only when the king died in 1820 that this strange phenomenon came to an end.
There is also a well-known Chinese legend about the number 110. According to this story, the Chinese character for “luck” is composed of two interwoven bamboo leaves, the first of which represents the digits 0 through 9. When this character is laid down in a particular pattern, it will bring you good luck in life. However, someone else has to actually make the wish come true. If you believe in Chinese folklore, you must make sure that you recite this pattern three times before you leave your home, otherwise you will not be able to travel abroad without worrying about whether or not you have enough money to return home.
When Is 110 Considered “Bad Luck”?
While 110 is considered to be lucky, it is also said to be bad luck if you draw, or are drawn, into a circle when using the number. For centuries, people have drawn a cross – or some other symbol – in the dirt with a stick to signify “good luck”. Unfortunately, it seems that some really bad luck happens if you do this in the same area of your body where you will be wounded or sick. This is exactly what happened to Émile Zola when he was 60 years old. Back in 1880, he was on a train heading to Riquelme when a circle was accidentally drawn on his chest. The stick broke, and he bled to death before he was able to receive medical aid.
The number 110 is certainly a unique one. In the short history of odds, it has only been used a few times and in some very specific situations. However, its meaning still remains a mystery today.