This paper investigates the effect of the type of movement on the tribological properties of an AlTiN coating applied to a disc made of HS6-5-2C steel. Tribological tests were carried out with a tribometer operating on a ball-disc friction apparatus moving in to-and-from as well as in rotary motion. The tests were carried out under technically dry friction conditions, subject to the application of a cutting fluid used during machining in grinding, turning, milling, drilling and cutting processes. A scanning microscope was used to observe the morphology of the surface, the morphology of the AlTiN coating, and to determine its chemical composition and assess wear mechanisms. The topography of the surface was analysed before and after carrying out the friction and wear tests using a confocal microscope with interferometric mode. The results of the provided tests indicate that the cutting fluid used in the tests reduced the coefficient of friction in both rotary and the sliding – reciprocating motion about 75% and 65% respectively. It has also contributed to a reduction in linear wear in the sliding – reciprocating motion about 22%. In case of rotary motion, higher values of linear wear about 40% were recorded, due to wear of the counterspecimen.