🚀 go-pugleaf

Just to chime in on the Thoren biography of Tycho
(watch for my review of it in Journal for the History
of Astronomy): It is very good, especially useful
and entertaining on the life of a Danish nobleman
who was also an astronomer--two roles that did not
always mesh well.

Tycho did loose part of his nose in a youthful duel,
and covered the wound with a metal piece.  he may well
have had several different ones--one for everyday use,
one for formal wear, etc.  Some reports state the
jewelry was gold or silver, but a late 19th century
examination of Tycho's skull showed some discoloration
of the bone in the nose area that has been attributed
to copper.  This is mentioned in Dreyer's  biography
of Tycho.