A tactile alphanumeric font includes raised alphabetic symbols representing the letters of the Roman alphabet and raised numeric symbols representing the Arabic numerals. The alphabetic symbols are divided into first--fourth regions, the alphabetic symbols in the first and third regions being denoted by a circular frame, and the alphabetic symbols in the second and fourth regions being denoted by a square frame. Uppercase symbols are designated by a dot centrally located above the lowercase symbol frame. The numeric symbols are denoted by a pentagonal frame. All of the frames have an aspect ratio of less than or equal to approximately 1.25. At least some of the alphabet and numeric symbols also include an interior element inside of and separated from the frame; and at least some of the alphabet and numeric symbols embody at least a physical association, such as a dominant characteristic, of their corresponding letter of the Roman alphabet or corresponding Arabic numeral 0-9.