Word Study
contorniate
CIDE DICTIONARY
contorniate, n. [It. contorniato, p. pr. of contorniare to make a circuit or outline, fr. contorno circuit, outline. See Contour.]. [It. contorniato, p. pr. of contorniare to make a circuit or outline, fr. contorno circuit, outline. See Contour.].
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. [1913 Webster]
For further exploring for "contorniate" in Webster Dictionary Online