Not all of us can be as lucky as the man walking in a field in Ipswich, England or the couple working on a drain in their yard in Millau, France. Those people all recently found hoards of gold coins dating from 40 B.C. to 1789. The coins found in France were buried almost 300 years ago in a yard near what was the old Roman road in the town. The coins in England dated to the Iceni tribe that revolted against the Romans. It's believed the coins were buried in large clay pots to appease the Gods and assure a bountiful harvest.

Because we're a comparatively young country, chances of any such finds in the U.S. are slim. However, a new book, just out, suggests there's plenty of a different type of coin treasure waiting to be found right here. In fact, some could be in your pocket right now.

The book is the "Cherrypicker's Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins." Sound dull? Just look at the substantial value of even modern coins minted as recently as a year or so ago and it's anything but.

For virtually as long as coins have been minted there have been freaks, errors and out-and-out mistakes that end up on the coin. Of course, these mistakes are not common. If they were, they would have little if any value. Also, they're not always obvious. In fact, some are all but invisible — unless, of course, you know what to look for. That's where the "Cherrypicker's Guide" really shines.

In the almost 500-plus pages of this fifth edition, scarce and rare varieties of coins ranging from dimes to dollars or copper to gold are showcased. Authors and numismatic variety experts Bill Fivaz, J.T. Stanton and Ken Potter offer informative input on more coins than most of us can imagine. Most importantly, every coin has detailed photos showing the exact subtleties to look for in coins that can make them far more valuable than their face value.

Sure, some of the coins are much older varieties that might be found only in collections. But so many people have had collections passed down to them, discovering rare or hard-to-find varieties in those could provide a nice windfall.

For instance, consider a Mercury dime from 1942. Today, in uncirculated condition one of those is worth about $10 or $12. But if you have one that has a subtle double-die overdate, the value jumps to between $5,000 and $15,000.

And, what about the coins now in your pocket or coin tray? In the same volume are examples of contemporary dimes, quarters, dollars and more. An example would be the 2004 Wisconsin state quarter. A normal one is worth...well, a quarter. But, if you take a closer look and spot an extra leaf next to the ear of corn in the design, that 25-cent coin quickly becomes worth upwards of $500.

A few added aspects I found especially helpful and interesting were information for the layperson or casual collector regarding rarity factors and dealer/collector interest and liquidity ratings. After all, what good is finding or owning an error-coin if it has minimal collector interest or, worse, is difficult to sell. The "Cherrypicker's Guide" offers plentiful advice about that and much more. They even have taken the time to include symbols next to varieties that indicate they are coins young collectors can look for and realistically find.

The spiral bound hardcover volume is priced at $39.95 and is available from many coin dealers and larger bookstores. Alternately, it can be found on the Whitman Publishing website at WhitmanBooks.com.

For anyone with a New Year's resolutions to make more money in 2012, they might be well advised to use the "Cherrypicker's Guide" to take a closer look at the money that's already been made and see if they can profit from that. If you do, be sure to let me know!

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the cover of the Cherrypicker's Guide To Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.