CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 450-380 BC. Pentonkion (Silver, 10 mm, 0.63 g, 4 h). Male head wearing taenia to left (Taras?); in the field to left, four pellets; in the field to right, one pellet; all within a plain circular border ( five pellets = pentonkion ). Rev. Dovecote, a round tower-like building with a pointed roof surmounted by a star; on the roof, two doves; on the side of the dovecote, two entry holes; around, five pellets; all within a plain circular border. HN III 862. Jameson 132 ( this coin ). Vlasto 1203. Very rare. A nicely toned coin of lovely style and of great interest. Some minor roughness, otherwise, good very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, ex Leu 45, 1988, 8 and from the collections of W. Niggeler, 1, Bank Leu & Münzen und Medaillen, 3 December 1965, 32, Robert Jameson and Sir Arthur Evans.

Dovecotes were very popular in Italy, where they served as nesting places for pigeons and doves. The birds lived in niches in the walls and they and their eggs were an important food source; the dung, guano, that accumulated on the floor was used as fertiliser. Despite its economic importance dovecotes were very rarely depicted on coins
.