diff --git a/src/universe.cpp b/src/universe.cpp
index e5876e4f6c..860394de4c 100644
--- a/src/universe.cpp
+++ b/src/universe.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 #include "mpi.h"
+#include "ctype.h"
 #include "stdlib.h"
 #include "string.h"
 #include "stdio.h"
@@ -25,6 +26,8 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 
 #define MAXLINE 256
 
+static char *date2num(const char *version);
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    create & initialize the universe of processors in communicator
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -32,6 +35,7 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 Universe::Universe(LAMMPS *lmp, MPI_Comm communicator) : Pointers(lmp)
 {
   version = (const char *) LAMMPS_VERSION "-ICMS";
+  num_ver = date2num(version);
 
   uworld = uorig = communicator;
   MPI_Comm_rank(uworld,&me);
@@ -57,6 +61,7 @@ Universe::~Universe()
   memory->destroy(procs_per_world);
   memory->destroy(root_proc);
   memory->destroy(uni2orig);
+  delete [] num_ver;
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -194,3 +199,41 @@ int Universe::consistent()
   if (n == nprocs) return 1;
   else return 0;
 }
+
+// helper function to convert LAMMPS data string to version id
+// that can be used for both string and numerical comparisons
+// where newer versions are "larger" than older ones.
+
+char *date2num(const char *version)
+{
+  int day,month,year;
+  day = month = year = 0;
+
+  if (version) {
+
+    while (*version != '\0' && isdigit(*version))
+      ++version;
+
+    if (strncmp(version,"Jan",3) == 0) month = 1;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Feb",3) == 0) month = 2;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Mar",3) == 0) month = 3;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Apr",3) == 0) month = 4;
+    if (strncmp(version,"May",3) == 0) month = 5;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Jun",3) == 0) month = 6;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Jul",3) == 0) month = 7;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Aug",3) == 0) month = 8;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Sep",3) == 0) month = 9;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Oct",3) == 0) month = 10;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Nov",3) == 0) month = 11;
+    if (strncmp(version,"Dec",3) == 0) month = 12;
+
+    while (*version != '\0' && !isdigit(*version))
+      ++version;
+
+    year = atoi(version);
+  }
+
+  char *ver = new char[10];
+  sprintf(ver,"%04d%02d%02d", year % 10000, month, day % 100);
+  return ver;
+}
diff --git a/src/universe.h b/src/universe.h
index ffd8aa32d9..acda345ab9 100644
--- a/src/universe.h
+++ b/src/universe.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 class Universe : protected Pointers {
  public:
   const char *version;    // LAMMPS version string = date
+  const char *num_ver;    // numeric version id derived from version that
+                          // can be used for string or numeric comparisons
 
   MPI_Comm uworld;        // communicator for entire universe
   int me,nprocs;          // my place in universe