A fairly common "SANDOZ" copy of a Kyrenaika didrachm, BMC 260 was offered on VCoins today for Euro 3000. I contacted the seller. I thought I had seen a thread here about the topic, but I don't find one. Intriguing but somewhat sad that these are still offered as authentic. This specimen has "SANDOZ" below the silphium plant on the reverse. The weight is ~ 6 gm while real specimens are ~7 gm. It is a well known copy made by Sandoz in the 1960s for advertising: https://www.nummus-bibleii.com/t10185-reproduction-drachme-cyrenaique Specimens with the SANDOZ removed like the first image in the nummus bible II thread are a little more challenging but still obvious: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/f...album=search&cat=0&pid=9135#top_display_media They are still popular as copies and SANDOZ made other reproductions: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/first-coins-of-2018-including-a-fake.308659/#post-2957173 Here's the real coin for comparison: Kyrenaika, Euhesperides AR didrachm circa 283-277 BC 7.02 gm, 19 mm, 6h O: head Apollo Karneius right R: silphium plant, ΒΑ-ΣΙ upper left & right, branch lower left Jameson 2139 (this coin); BMC 260(XXIV:7) These were probably struck by Magas after his independence from Ptolemaic Egypt 283 BC and before reconciliation with Ptolemy II several years later. The legend suggests Magas briefly proclaimed himself king.
