I would suggest buying a copy of A Guidebook of United States Coins, commonly called the Redbook. It will give you an idea if anything you have is rate, plus it's filled with loads of info inc basic grading, mintages, mintmark locations, weights, a little history and lots of other stuff. I would bet that just about every experienced collector on CT who started out collecting US coins had one and spent time reading it. By far, the best $15 you'll spend on the hobby
Love them old wheaties. Ya know, if those crappy Zincoln's stood up as well to circulation as the old copper cents, I might even begin to like them.