quincunx

thumb|180px|A quincunx of pips on the five-side of a dice|die A quincunx ( ) is a geometric pattern consisting of five points arranged in a cross, with four of them forming a square or rectangle and a fifth at its center. The same pattern has other names, including "in saltire" or "in cross" in heraldry (depending on the orientation of the outer square), the five-point stencil in numerical analysis, and the five dots tattoo. It forms the arrangement of five units in the pattern corresponding to the five-spot on six-sided dice, playing cards, and dominoes. It is represented in Unicode as or (for the die pattern) .

==Historical origins of the name== thumb|left|150px|A Quincunx (Roman coin)|quincunx coin thumb|150px|Coat of arms of Portugal|Portuguese shield The quincunx was originally a coin issued by the Roman Republic , whose value was five twelfths (quinque and uncia) of an as, the Roman standard bronze coin. On the Roman quincunx coins, the value was sometimes indicated by a pattern of five dots or pellets. However, these dots were not always arranged in a quincunx pattern.