Whats Worth Keeping?

Some Canadian dimes/quarters from 1968 are 50% silver. 1967s are also 50% or even 80%; older ones are all 80%. US quarters and dimes from 1964 and back are 90% silver, and definitely worth keeping. I would say keep US nickels from about 1960 back. The US WWII-era nickels with a large mintmark over the dome are 35%.

All good info here. Personally, US nickels before 1960 I throw back, keep the ones in nice shape, the years with mintage below 10 million.

One of the things I do besides saving key dates or blocks or dates is make and stash 2 sets each or circulated coins, each denomination.
For example, I CRH US Cents and US Nickels.
This means I get quantities of:

- Wheat Cents
- Lincoln Cents
- Canadian Cents
- Jefferson nickels

I have two very small boys who I hope will get into the hobby someday, so I have 1 Whitman folder of the above, each, and try to fill as much as possible from the searched rolls. During coin shows I fill in any missing dates from the bulk boxes/folders (i.e: "any Wheat cent .5 cents, .10 cents, etc...).

When they get into the hobby, they will have some folders, mostly filled, and then they will learn to search and upgrade.

Imagine when they get their first folder. They are going to think they received a treasure.

You could always keep coppers. Up until they switched from the 12 sided back to round is copper.