Coin 'Collection'

[Lukie]

Are there by chance any resident FTR coin experts out there?

Over the years I seem to have accumulated a massive coin collection. I had put 'collection' in quotes because it's really not an organized collection, just lots and lots of coins that I have dumped into a tool box for the last 15 years or so.

I shouldn't say that. I have routinely used quarters to pick up a $1 coffee at mcdonalds and other similar uses. There is still a seemingly neverending supply of them though, and hundreds of dollars worth of quarters alone as a conservative estimate and more dimes/nickels/pennies than I know what to do with. There are also the occasional random canadian coins, Susan B Athonys, gold $1 coins, half/full dollars, and arcade and batting cage tokens.

I'd like to cash all this in. Is there anything particularly valuable that I should be on the lookout for? e.g. specific coins/years/etc.

Also what is the best way to go about it? I know there are coinstar things but those take a certain % and I'd rather not do that unless it gets me some useful voucher to a place I would shop at anyway (without paying a fee)

What would be the protocol of taking all of this to a bank? Should I phone ahead of time so I don't surprise them with a backpack full of metal?

Thanks ahead of time for any useful advice or funny jokes posted.