Caecilia gens At first patrician (ther were nobles descended from the Metelli), afterwards plebian but of great antiquity this family gave a host of illustrious citizens to the republic. It was divided into many surnames, the principal was Metellus, several members of which distinguished branch bore the names of conquered countries as Macedonicus, Numidicus, Balearicus, and Creticus. Its gold coins are extremely rare. The silver common; except pieces restored by Trajan, which are of very great rarity. The name of the Caecilia gens appears on Cistrophori of Pergamus. The brass money are asses or parts of the as. The following are among those denarii which possess a high historical interest.
1. Head of Apollo, laureated and with hair in ringlets; behind it ROMA; before it X. Rev. M METELLVS Q F written circularly. The type consists of an elephant 's head in the center of a Macedonian shield; the whole within a crown of laurel.
2. ROMA. Galeted head of Rome; before it X Rev C METELLVS, a male figure perhaps of Jupiter, crowed by a flying Victory in a biga of elephants.
These and many other coins with various types were struck by Marcus and Caius Cecilius Metellus, sons of Quintus Metellus Macedonicus in reference to the two principal glories of the family; that is to say the overthrow of the Pseudo-Philippus (Andrisens) in Macedonia, defeated and taken prisoner by the father the praetor in 606 (148 BC), in the third Punic war; for which he enjoyed the honours of the triumph; and in which occasion shone a multiplicity of Macedonian shields, such as are found represented on coins; and also the great victory gained in 504 (250 BC) fifteenth year of the first Punic war, by the proconsul Lucius Metellus, their progenitor, over Hasdrubal, near Panormus (Palermo).