Welcome to the site! I actually work in a coin shop and can give you some advise on getting the most out of your stuff. First...don't clean it up more than a good soak in soap and water. The next thing would be to get a coin value book. The "bible" (due to it being the most widely available and has a lot of good basics) is the Red Book. (For most a current monthly magazine would work but has less educational info.) Sort your coins into value bands and take them to a reputable coin shop. Some in the industry are less than honest. By saying this I mean to say that they won't let you know you could have a good coin, pay you a pittance...later. (A bit of pre-research will help you avoid this till you find a good dealer.) Most modern silver coinage is not rare and unless it is a tougher date or extremely choice choice condition, just below silver melt is fair,( We throw common Walkers,late 30's Washingtons, common Mercs etc... into bulk silver bags right along with '64 silver dimes and halves. (Better customers do get better bags!) Wheats fetch 1.5 x face from 1940 to '58. Pre 1930 are 4x etc... (All this just for an Idea.) If it's worth it to you... sell 'em. If not, enjoy 'm and keep 'em.
The one thing you have to realize is, prices in books and mags. are geared to individual/shipped coin sales and aren't the real "liquid" value seen in day to day tranactions. Prices paid are well behind this but the price offered should always reflect the desirability factor of the coin. An active coin shop (who deals frequently with a regular customer) is back of these prices by about 10 to 20% to sell and 25 to 40% to buy. (This may sound like too little to pay but unless it is readily liqiud...they sit on there investment and can loose money. (Doesn't take long to have accumulated a lot of stuff just to sit on!)
Rarer coins that are in a better state of preservation (or just down right tough to find in any condition) take no less than 70% retail. (If it is significantly rare...90%+) Best thing to do is a "test run" first. Once you have established a level of trust.. do the rest. Always be armed with some basic knowledge of what you have. A good dealer, will watch out for your interests if you do. "There is no Santa in numismatics." but you should be treated fairly. Hope this helps!
