Small Cents

Personally, I keep anything 1967 or earlier, and also pull nice examples of
1979 doubled date
1983 beads near rim
1985 pointed 5
pre-2002 mintmarks
2006 no logo magnetic
2006P
as well as anything else out of the ordinary.

I pull the above at any grade. Otherwise, it has to be high MS to be worth keeping (unless I've forgotten something!).

You set the bar real high glenzy. Did you win the lottery ?

I just have a pile of pennies around in containers, some rolls, boxes etc and am just starting to get my collection organized. I am putting them in 2x2's and then in pages in binders. My goal there is to have one of every year and the major varieties. In the sixty's I am looking to having one of PL or Specimen and circulation and seventy's forward I am looking to have Proof, Specimen and circulation for each year. I just don't know what to take back to the bank.

Hello littlemoney, no unfortunately I didn't win the lottery, however, I have no vices (except for coin collecting), I drive an old vehicle, I don't travel, and I live within my means. (no credit card debt) This enables me to spend money on some of the finest known pieces in numismatics.
I've always had the type of personality/character to have the finest whenever I acquire a "passion" in life for a Hobby. This is one Hobby that is soo exciting to me, not only the collecting aspect, but the thrill of meeting/conversing with other collectors.

Glenn

Being happy in whatever you collect is what's important. There is no such thing in coin collecting as a "minimum standard" of what you should collect. Every person has to and should collect within their means and make their Hobby enjoyable. Brian Cornwall, owner of I.C.C.S. put together the lowest graded silver dollar collection (all problem free. All the silver dollars he collected were between the years 1935-1967 and sold at an auction for $4,000.00 in a Whitman folder.
Now here's a man who's has handled and has had access to the "finest" Canadian Coinage on the Planet, however, He chose to put together the "LOWEST" graded silver dollar collection. (fair-G4) It was a lifetime goal of his and he achieved it, awesome. Actually when you think about, it's harder to acquire worn out silver in these grades than it is to acquire MS-64/65 examples. The Great silver melts we've had in the past 40 years took millions out of circulation.

Glenn

Thanks all for your opinions, glenzy and uncle al you are right it is up to the collector. As far as my "official collection" or what I would show everyone would the ones in the binders which would be the best that I have at any time. I am always looking for upgrades to most of my collection. I guess what I struggle with is what could be of some "value" later instead of my collection. But in doing this I guess I am going beyond collector to hoping to deal or sell something later on. I guess this is the decision I have to make on whether I hoard a whole bunch or keep my collection and spend the others. I guess in this regards a person can browse through Trends and see what is commanding some premium and watch for them. I just keep thinking that the coins we now pay good money for were at one time very common also. My feeling now is that I will maybe keep 6 - 10 of each year if they are of good quality with anything after 1970's having to be of very good quality MS at least. This should keep me from being on those hoarding shows on TV.

Thanks again all for your views