1503
1503 is the year Leonardo began the Mona Lisa.
- Odd
- Composite
Where 1503 fits
Why 1503 is special
He worked on it intermittently for years and never delivered it. Its modern fame dates substantially from its theft in 1911, which put it on front pages worldwide for two years.
Same number, different meanings
How 1503 is understood across different contexts — never implying one meaning because of another.
- Mathematics
He worked on it intermittently for years and never delivered it. Its modern fame dates substantially from its theft in 1911, which put it on front pages worldwide for two years.
- History
In 1503, Leonardo began the Mona Lisa (Italy).
- Culture
The Mona Lisa was well regarded but not uniquely famous until it was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 and missing for two years. The coverage during its absence made it the best-known painting in the world.
1503 is part of
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (6)
- 1, 3, 9, 167, 501, 1503
- Prime factorisation
- 3^2 × 167
- Digit sum
- 9
- Digital root
- 9
Representations
- Decimal
- 1503
- Scientific notation
- 1.503 × 10^3
Roman numerals
M D I I I
Binary
1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1
1 × 1,024 + 0 × 512 + 1 × 256 + 1 × 128 + 1 × 64 + 0 × 32 + 1 × 16 + 1 × 8 + 1 × 4 + 1 × 2 + 1 × 1 = 1,503
Octal
2 7 3 7
2 × 512 + 7 × 64 + 3 × 8 + 7 × 1 = 1,503
Hexadecimal
5 d f
5 × 256 + d × 16 + f × 1 = 1,503
Read as powers of two: 1,024 + 256 + 128 + 64 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 1,503.
In historical numeral systems
Egyptian
1 lotus, 5 coils of rope, 3 strokes
1 × 1,000 + 5 × 100 + 3 × 1 = 1,503. The signs are simply repeated and added; where they sit on the line is a matter of layout, not value.
Babylonian
2 corner wedges + 5 vertical wedges (sixties place), 3 vertical wedges (units place)
25 × 60 + 3 = 1503. Places are separated by a space on the tablet, with the higher place written first.
Systems that simply cannot reach this value are left out. Where a script needs a font most readers do not have, the reading is given instead of the glyphs — see number systems for each system in full.
Other mathematical patterns
- Deficient number
- Harshad (Niven) number
- Lucky number (mathematical sieve)
Related numbers & connections
1503 is a year in the 16th century, in the 1500s.
The Sistine ceiling was completed in 1512 and Leonardo began the Mona Lisa in 1503. Both are now among the most visited objects in the world and neither was made to be.
View 1512 →Numbers Around Us
- appears inHistorical years
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
Other connections
- is associated with1512
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
History
In 1503, Leonardo began the Mona Lisa (Italy).
DocumentedHistoryGeography: ItalyPeriod: 1503
Culture
The Mona Lisa was well regarded but not uniquely famous until it was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 and missing for two years. The coverage during its absence made it the best-known painting in the world.
DocumentedCultureGeography: Italy and FrancePeriod: 1503
Common questions
Is 1503 a prime number?
No, 1503 is not prime.
What are the factors of 1503?
The factors of 1503 are 1, 3, 9, 167, 501, 1503.
What is 1503 in Roman numerals?
1503 in Roman numerals is MDIII.
About this page's data
Mathematical facts:computed directly from the number's value — nothing to source or verify externally.
Contextual records: 2 reviewer-confirmed records, sourced and reviewed before publication.
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026