Your first impression was perfectly fine, young lady, and you're certainly not clueless. Personally, I'd much rather read posts from someone honest and upfront than some of the nitpicking that goes on here. As has already been said, if you're only wishing to look through coins with the hopes of making money, particularly if searching for varieties, please understand that the chances of finding anything of real value is quite slim. When adding in the time and effort it will take, there is likely little else that would be less profitable to spend your time doing. However, if you're looking first for a new hobby with hoped-for profits coming in a distant second, then there is nothing wrong with searching though your or your grandfather's coins (with permission, of course) and learning as you go. There seem to be many who very much enjoy the hunt, and every once in a while something of fair value does pop up, but if you're going to do this, focus on the "fun" of it and set your expectations low. While there are many books out there that could be of help to you, there are also plenty of websites that will cost you nothing yet teach you a lot. As time passes and you become more familiar with whatever series are of interest to you, the opportunity to profit may well come along with it; as the old saying goes... good things come to those who wait. Good luck to you.
As others have stated, the odds of happening upon one super-valuable coin out of two jars are slim. It'd be like winning the lottery. If the goal is to "get cash quick", that's probably not the way to do it. If you're looking for a a hobby that is both rewarding and can be profitable (much later on), then you've come to the right place to start picking up numismatic information.
Well that doesn't sound very fun! We don't want her to get bored and leave us. I say one good world-coin book, and a pound of random world coins would be a fine introduction. Cheap, fun, and there can be a lot of learning on the job, so to speak.
Great post. Amanda, who posted above and Charmy, who is also a member here are a part of WIN. Great gals to get to know.