Reader interest in all types of collectibles continues to soar. Time to answer a few questions.

Dear Peter: You often write about rare and valuable collectibles that people find, such as the recent "Boot of Cortez" gold nugget and rare coins or stamps. Stories about these discoveries often show up in the press. I'm curious just how hard is it to find these treasures. Any suggestions as to how one might increase his odds and uncover something valuable? — J.K., Yuba City, Calif.

I'd say you could work very hard or be very lucky. Better still, work smart. The man who found the 26-pound Cortez gold nugget spent weeks searching with a metal detector. But he knew gold had been found in the area and set up a search grid. Others may merely stumble across something that just seems unusual.

For instance, a person ran across a glob of amber in the Dominican Republic. Amber is hardened prehistoric tree sap that is an attractive yellow color and is sometimes used in jewelry. It's found on the ground or may wash up on the shore. The piece from the Caribbean was about 5 inches long — a nice size that could bring a few hundred dollars. Thing is, the discoverer noticed something inside. When polished, it turned out to be a perfectly preserved 3 1?2 inch fossilized lizard from 30 million years ago — the largest animal ever discovered in amber. It sold at auction last month for $143,400.

Bottom line — treasure can be anywhere if you know what you're looking at.

Dear Peter: I have two letters from Jack Ruby dated 1963 and 1964 in their original envelopes from Dallas, Texas, when he was in prison for shooting Lee Harvey Oswald. I would like to sell them but haven't the slightest idea how to do so. Can you help? — D.P., Bradenton, Fla.

Disturbing and bleak as these may be, you certainly have two major pieces of history. Signatures from famous or, in this case, notorious personalities continue to be in demand.

Handwritten letters are even more coveted.

To my knowledge, Ruby is the only person to assassinate someone on live television. Amazingly, I was home sick from school the day it happened and witnessed it.

Checks signed by Ruby sell today for between $200 and $500. Of course, full letters are altogether different. Depending on the content, each can sell for $5,000 or more if they're especially interesting. I'd guess your letters are authentic, but they should be certified. I suggest contacting the Professional Autograph Dealer Association at: P.O. Box 1729W, Murray Hill Station, New York, N.Y. 10016. Or you can phone toll-free: 888-338-4338, and the Web site is: www.padaweb.org.

Dear Peter: I have a state quarter from Virginia. It seems to be minted with the same material as the dollar coin. I almost spent it but got it back quickly. Do I have a minting error that I should be happy about? — R.C. East Alton, Ill.

I'd love to say yes, but the Virginia quarters were minted in 2000. The new presidential golden dollars didn't first appear until last year — 2007. That makes the odds of your coin being struck from the golden-colored metal slim. I'd guess the clad metal is toned on yours to look golden in color. Of course, I could be wrong. (Just ask my wife.) Be sure to take it to a reputable local coin dealer to examine. It may be worth sending to a certification service. If for some reason it was struck from a metal different than normal quarters, it would be worth WAY more than 25 cents.

Dear Peter: I have a friend with a collection of silver coins. Many are from the 1950s and 1960s (containing silver). How does one go about getting a fair price for these coins? — T.H. Vandergrift, Penn.

When silver prices are $17 an ounce, as they have been lately, coin dealers are paying 11 times face value or more for the coins. That means 10 dimes should bring you $11, and 10 quarters should bring $27.50. All the coins MUST be struck prior to 1965, when silver coins were replaced with clad copper/nickel.

(Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the piece of amber containing the prehistoric lizard is being sent for your use with this column.)

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