Yeah. Seems like a lot of people get really into it though so ther's a lot of info out there on it available if it's something you want to really explore.
Yes, for a variety of reasons:
Older coins typically are more valuable because they're more rare (in theory, not always true).
Materials changes over time impact value. For instance, US Mint stopped minting quarters out of silver in 1965, so pre 65 coins have more value (fluctuates depending on...
I'm not a collector really. I have some mercury head dimes, some indian head nickels, wheat pennies, a few silver quarters and dimes, and that's about it. Nothing worth more than a couple bucks. Just stuff I've come across over time and held onto.
Weigh it. If it's legit. it should weigh 27.22g or very close. If it's a fake it will have a different weight. Also, see if it's magnetic. If you can pick it up with a magnet, it's fake. Silver is nonferrous. Those are worth a hundred to potentially thousands of pounds (condition matters as do...