The invention relates to a method of authentication of a contactless communication circuit, PICC, by a contactless communication terminal, PCD. Within the PICC, a first number is generated by encryption of a second random number, and the first number is sent to the PCD. Within the PCD, a third number is generated by decryption of the first number. Also within the PCD, a fourth number is determined and encrypted to generate a fifth number. The fifth number has first and second portions. Back within the PICC, a sixth number is determined, which is used in the determination of a seventh number. The seventh number is determined by encryption by a cipher block chaining operating mode of the sixth number with an initialization vector equal to the first portion. If the seventh number is different from the second portion, the authentication is interrupted.