Abstract: A data bearing card having a magnetizable, transparent, colorless coating thereon is disclosed. The coating can comprise a transparent, colorless plastic matrix containing a dispersed particulate crystalline phase. The dispersed phase is prepared by mixing 20-60% of a rare earth compound containing a colorless ferromagnetic ion such as gadolinium with 0.1-5% of titanium dioxide or zirconium oxide, 0.05-2.5% of an inorganic fluoride salt and the balance up to 100% of a glass forming matrix such as inorganic borates. The mixture is heated above its melting point to form a homogeneous melt and subsequently crystallized. The resulting crystalline product can be ground to any desired particle size for dispersion in the transparent plastic matrix.In general, the coating composition is useful in all applications where magnetic coatings are presently used.