Rare Earth Magnet for detecting impurities in precious metals

This rare earth neodymium magnet is a powerful, practical screening tool for coin collectors, dealers, jewelry buyers, and anyone handling precious metals.

Rare earth magnets are made from a blend of rare earth elements and are the strongest permanent magnets available. While they do not detect silver, gold, bronze, or copper directly, they are extremely effective at detecting iron and steel, which are commonly found in plated items, steel cores, and many modern or counterfeit coins.

Rated at a 29-pound pull, this N42 neodymium magnet is sensitive enough to reveal even weak magnetic reactions, including attraction through thin plating. It comes housed in an individual protective tube for safe, convenient handling.

How it works

• Precious metals are non-magnetic. Genuine gold, silver, bronze, and copper will not be attracted to the magnet.

• If a coin or piece of jewelry snaps to the magnet, ferromagnetic material such as iron, steel, or nickel-rich steel is present.

• This immediately rules out genuine precious-metal composition for most coins and bullion items.

What to expect with common coin metals

• Silver: Non-magnetic. A genuine silver coin will not stick, though a very strong magnet may create a slow “drag” when slid across the surface. This resistance is caused by eddy currents and is a positive indicator.

• Gold: Completely non-magnetic. Any attraction strongly suggests a plated or counterfeit item.

• Bronze and copper: Non-magnetic, with no attraction.

• Nickel: Magnetic. Many circulating nickel coins, including modern Canadian issues, will attract a magnet and are not precious-metal coins.

• Steel-based coins: Strong magnetic attraction. Common in modern circulation coinage and many counterfeits.

What “impurity detection” really means

This magnet is an effective screening aid, not a purity tester:

• Detects iron or steel cores, plating, or contamination

• Does not measure fineness, alloy percentages, or precious-metal content

• Items can pass a magnet test and still be plated, underweight, or made from the wrong alloy

Why the 29-pound pull matters

• Makes weak magnetic reactions easier to notice

• Improves detection through thin plating

• Increases sensitivity for quick, on-the-spot checks
  Careful handling is recommended due to the magnet’s strength.

Product features

• 2" × 1/2" × 1/8" rare earth neodymium magnet (N42)

• 29-pound pull strength

• Instantly separates gold and silver items from steel-based materials

• Helps identify plated jewelry where steel is often the base metal

• Ideal for coin collectors, antique buyers, metal recyclers, and brokers

• Convenient and portable for use at shows, garage sales, and estate sales

• Useful for sorting genuine brass and bronze from plated steel items

• Supplied in an individual tube for safe handling and storage

Best practice: Use this magnet as a first-pass authenticity check, alongside weight, diameter, thickness, and visual inspection. It should never be the sole method of authentication.

In short:
A rare earth magnet won’t prove a coin is silver or gold, but it’s very good at proving when it isn’t.