Pecten shells are among the most popular in shell collections because of their shape and wide variety of colors. The earliest of these shells have been found from the Triassic Period, more than 200 million years ago.

The scallop pecten shell was worn by pilgrims on their way to Compostella in Spain as a mark of devotion and Roman funeral monuments were often ordorned with these shells as it was often seen as a symbol of passing on. The pecten shell is also featured in the famous Renaissance painting "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli.