MagnetiCoins: Artist makes strong magnets with foreign coins

Chicago artist Matt Binns finally has found some use for all those old coins brought back from foreign travels. Affixing powerful neodymium magnets to pocket change dating to the late 19th century and hailing from around the world, Binns’ super-strong MagnetiCoins can hold more than a dozen sheets of paper. “People are more than welcome to try this at home,” he says. But for those who want the finished product, Binns has launched www.magneticoin.com. A 15-piece Coins of the World set is $26; sets featuring coins from a specific country or region are $29.95 each.

-- David A. Keeps