36 COINS. 



Cross. Charges such as swords, batons, etc., placed in the 



direction of sahicr, are said to be borne saltie7--icise. 

 Sejant. — Sitting; applied to a lion or other beast. 

 Seme. — A term used to indicate a field or charge powdered or 



strewed over with figui'cs, such as stars, crosses, etc. 

 Sin'ister. — The lelt side of the escutcheon. 

 Supporters. — Figures placed by the side of the shield and 



appearing to support it. Thus, the lion and the unicorn 



are the supporters of the British sovereign's arms. 

 Tierce. — An epithet for the field when it is divided into three 



parts. 

 Vair. — One of the furs employed in blazoning, supposed to 



represent the skin of a small squirrel. 

 Vergette'. — A pallet or small pale ; hence, a shield divided by 



such pallets. 

 Vo'lant. — Flying, or having the wings spread. 



COINS. 



Numismat'ics (Gr. nojm'sma, a coin). — The science of medals 



and coins. 

 Coining", or Coinage. — The art of making stamped metallic 



money. 

 Contornia'ti. — A species of medals or medallions of bronze 



having a curved furrow (contorno) on each side, and sup- 

 posed to have been struck in the days of Coustantiue and 



his successors. 

 Coun'termark. — A stamp frequently seen on ancient coins, 



often obliterating a large part of the impression. 

 Exergue'. — The small space around, and without, the work or 



figures of a medal, for an inscription, etc. 

 Med'alurgy (jmedal, and Gr. ergon^ work). — The art of making 



and striking medals and other coins. 

 Milling. — The process of stamping coin on the edge. 

 Numismatog'raphy (Gr. nomisma, a coin, andp-apho, I write). 



— The science which treats of coins and medals in their 



relation to history. 

 Ob'verse. — The side of a coin which contains the principal 



symbol. 

 Planch'et. — A disk of metal ready to be stamped as a coin. 

 Reverse'. — The side of a coin opposite to that on which the 



head or principal figure is impressed. 



