SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — An American who was caught trying to leave Macedonia with more than 200 ancient coins has been convicted of violating the country's strict law protecting it archaeological heritage and given a two-year suspended sentence.

In Wednesday's ruling, the court also banned 45-year-old Candace Lynn Dunlap, a nurse from Meridianville, Alabama, from returning to Macedonia for 10 years.

Dunlap was arrested at the country's main airport last month with 256 coins in her carry-on luggage. Local news media said the coins were up to 2,200 years old.

The defendant said she was given the coins by a Macedonian man as a present and was unaware of any wrongdoing.

Dunlap was due to leave Macedonia late Wednesday night.