Whatzit Forum

A buddy found this and is wondering what it may be? and what is it worth?

It has some writing on the face:

August 1841
NOVA
TROPEA
CANTANVS

The back is smooth with no writings at all

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Whats a FOB?

the helm looks very roman, as does the inscription.
Nova = a bright/exploding star in english I think roughly "junk" in spanish? It shows up as a word in portugese
Tropa= no know definition in english, shows up as a word in portugese (sorry I cant read it )
Cantanvs= couldnt find any info on this, my guess roman or ...portugese? the use of the v in the word says roman to me, im no expert tho.
I would think the inscription will tell you what you want to know.
Awesome find tho!

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I have one of these and i dont know what it is.my papaw dug this one up while working a garden in east tennessee back around 1950.yours and mine are identical except for one small detail mine is set up on the back to b worn as a button yours has a loop for a necklace that mine doesnt.back around late 1980's my brother took it to a scientist at the college and he wasnt exactly sure what it was but thaught it might have been a medallioin given to leaders and heros of the christian movement in rome when the papal states were in bloom.if you find out please holler back also yours seems to b in a little better shape nice find.

I think it is a rosary pendant or charm. Each little nub is to help you remember how many times to say a prayer or each one represents a different prayer. I have seen them like rings as well. Idigid

My guess.

Nova = New
Tropa= troop (s)
Cantanus=chant, sing out, sing.

Behold new troops?


The car Nova was a non starter in spanish speaking countries because "no va" translated as "no go"! It of course was a crap car but the name did not help.

Would you by a swedish car if the name sounded like "lumpacrap".

Supernova refers to the brilliant flash lasting weeks to years that an exploding star makes. Nova is Latin for new. In the world before telescopes the star before exploding may not have been seen before. Meaning "very bright new star" as opposed to a star that is known that becomes brighter which is a plain old nova.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova.