9 in Morse Code
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Four dashes in a row before a single closing dot: — — — — · . Only 0's all-dash code takes longer to send, and only by one symbol's difference — digit 1 uses the same four dashes and one dot in the opposite order, so it costs exactly the same time on the key.
The Far End From 1
9's symbols, reversed — dot, dash, dash, dash, dash — spell out 1's code exactly. The two anchor opposite outer edges of the ten-digit sequence, the closest either extreme comes to a matching partner.
A Faster Way to Send It
Contest and DX operators commonly substitute the letter N (dash-dot) for a full 9 once it's already clear a number is being sent — an informal "cut number" shortcut so widely used that a signal report of "599" is often keyed as "5NN" without any real ambiguity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 9 closer in length to the short end or the long end of the digit sequence?
The long end — with four full dashes and only one dot, it ties with digit 1 (the same symbols reversed) as the second-slowest digit to key, behind only 0's all-dash code.