Method and apparatus for checking value documents

A method for checking value documents includes checking a security element having a plurality of magnetic regions, including a high-coercivity magnetic region, optionally a low-coercivity magnetic region and optionally a combined magnetic region which contains the high-coercivity as well as the low-coercivity magnetic material, and optionally a soft-magnetic magnetic region. After the magnetization of all the magnetic regions in a first direction, first magnetic signals of the security element are detected with a first magnetic detector. Subsequently, a second magnetization is performed wherein the low-coercivity magnetic material is remagnetized anti-parallel to the first magnetization, but the high-coercivity magnetic material remains aligned in the first magnetization direction. Second magnetic signals are detected with a second magnetic detector. On the basis of the magnetic signals, a magnetic region of the security element is identified as a high-coercivity, a low-coercivity, a combined or a soft-magnetic magnetic region.