I don't think it matters as long as there's relative motion between a coil or conductor and a magnetic field. That in itself creates an induced current that opposes the change caused by the relative motion in the field. So if a coil is moving from a strong magnetic field to a weaker one, a current (eddy) will flow in the coil that opposes this reduction in the magnetic field. And of course vice versa.
You can create an eddy current in a copper pipe or tube by dropping a permanent magnet into it for instance. In that case the magnet will slow up travelling down the inside of the pipe compared to it in free fall. All due to eddy currents...