I would like something stronger than Ferrous magnets. But I don't want something that would pull the nails out of a wall. Or the iron out of my red blood cells!!! What is the recommended magnet type for numismatics? I believe that nickel and cobalt are weakly magnetic.
My favorite magnets are the strong neodium ones. They are strong enough to pull actual space dust out of rainwater. Not great for coins though
Why do you need/want magnets? Is this for identifying counterfeits? If so, really any standard magnet is going to suffice. Certain types of counterfeits will be attracted to a standard magnet, whereas normal coins won't. However, if you start using very strong rare-earth magnets, even normal coins will begin to show attraction. You want a good, normal magnet - not some neodium or other fancy magnets.
Neodymium magnets are pretty darn strong. You can get them from old hard drives. Too strong for numismatics in my opinion.
Consider this: A coin is "sucked" onto the surface of a very strong magnet. You have a hard time pulling the coin away from the magnet. Your only alternative is to slide the coin across the surface of the magnet so you can get a grip on the edge of the coin. What do you think may have happened to the surface of the coin after you have forced it to slide across the face of the magnet?
Personally, I would not use neodymium magnets. I can not imagine trying to detach neodymium magnets from something like an iron coin. Ferrite magnets are cheap and relatively weak. I do not think I would test a coin with a magnet directly on its surface. Instead, I would try it through a coin slip or something similar. I am also curious of your purpose for the magnet, since that might change what kind of magnet would work the best.
Did that. Not attracted to it. I'm looking to see if it's something like CuNi. Ferrous magnets won't attract CuNi coins. I'm after something that will, hence possibly a Neodymium magnet. Now, as to the "why". I've got four advertising tokens that I'm trying to get a clue to its metallic content. Here's one: Weight: ~8.5 gms (between clad quarter and clad half dollar weight) Diameter: ~28 mm (between quarter and half dollar size) Four different obverses. Three different numismatic advertisers, all of which still appear to still exist. Not attracted to a normal magnet. Doesn't appear to be clad. Not reeded. I'm guessing CuNi.
Do you own a metal detector ? It won't tell you metal content but may help in determining what kind of Metal used , if that makes sense .