Dictionary entry

Contorniate

Webster's Dictionary 1913

{ Con‐tor″ni‐ate (?), ‖Con‐tor″ni‐a′te (?) }, n., [It. contorniato, p. pr. of contorniare to make a circuit or outline, fr. contorno circuit, outline. See Contour.] (Numis.) A species of medal or medallion of bronze, having a deep furrow on the contour or edge; — supposed to have been struck in the days of Constantine and his successors. R. S. Poole.