What is this thing?
 

I'm currently bidding on an ebay item: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:X:RTQ:US:1123

My question is what in the world is it? I'm planning on using it as a lavaliere but it's not like any lavaliere I've ever seen. It looks similar to an honor society key but very obviously has our letters on it. It looks very old. I'm especially drawn to how different the "S" looks. It's not as stylized as the one we use today.

I looked through the Centennial History and couldn't find anything about it. Could this have been a gift of some sort or possibly even a lavaliere?

I asked the seller and she said she knew nothing about it other than she had got it in a lot of jewelry. She's located in North Carolina. Other than that I have nothing to go on. I will email her again to ask what else was in the lot and where/from whom she bought it from to try to trace it back.

I'm also sending Mongiovi the link

Oh, and please don't outbid me on this. I really want to get it for my girl!

__________________________________________________ ___________
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia-Alpha Kappa Chapter (Ohio University)
Alpha Mu Pledge Class-5/25/07
Harmonious Beginnings-FMA Interest Group (Marietta College)

It's an alumnus key (as in a watch key, a la Phi Beta Kappa). It's meant to hang from a watch chain, at least in theory. I know they were available back in the 80s. I don't know how much further back it goes or if it was based on an earlier design, though.

BTW, I don't want to be a downer, but since you mentioned wanting your girl to wear it as a lavaliere, you might want to take a look at Article XXI, Section 4, of the National Constitution. ("Only Sinfonians in good standing may wear or otherwise display the Greek letters 'FMA' or the Fraternity’s Coat-of-Arms. . . . . A member may not authorize or encourage a non-Sinfonian to wear or otherwise display these symbols.")

Good luck, and welcome to GreekChat.

It's chryso, not a troll.