CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 470-450 BC. Litra (Silver, 11 mm, 0.76 g, 9 h). Scallop shell within a circular linear border. Rev. TARAϞ( retrograde ) Dolphin leaping to right; below, scallop shell to left. HN III -. Vlasto 1135 ( same dies ). Very rare. Lovely old cabinet toning. Some traces of old deposits, otherwise, very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions.

The scallop shell was a favourite type for Tarentine litra and their fractions, probably not only because the shells were commonly found on the coast near Tarentum, and used for decoration, as well as being fished for and eaten, but also because they were a symbol of Aphrodite, who was supposedly borne from some unusual foam in the sea. As such she was often depicted nude, languidly lying or standing in a scallop shell. This scene was depicted in a wall painting from Pompeii, and then later, beginning in the Renaissance, on a variety of paintings (from Botticelli and Titian, Poussin and Fragonard, on to the wild dreams of Bouguereau).