Pre-1965 quarters in excellent condition might hold enough value to buy a nice dinner out. In 2014, for example, a mint 1964 quarter sold at auction for $47.15, according to the Specialty Metals ...

You can see some of the “melt value” of old silver coins here. What this means is that your jar of spare change may be worth a lot more than you think—if you sell those coins to the right place.

At her home in Moonachie, New Jersey, Quintero showed some of the coins that could have value: a few buffalo head nickels, an Eisenhower silver dollar, and at least one coin that dates back to ...