It's wisely been said that to foster polite dialogue or conversation, avoid the topics of politics, religion or money. Of course, I like to stir the pot. Two weeks ago, I ventured into the political arena. This week, among the stacks of mail were letters referencing money and religion. I can't resist.

Dear Peter: A few months ago, the price of gold was over $1,000 an ounce. Last week, it dipped well below $700. It seems erratic. Would this be the time to buy at a low price or sell and take profits on the gold I purchased when it was at $350 an ounce? — J.K. Holyoke, Mass.

The answer is ... yes. OK, I'm not trying to be evasive. You're correct about gold being erratic. It's an emotion-driven investment, after all. Stock market uncertainty and lower interest rates drive people to alternative investments such as gold. It pays no interest or dividends, but speculators assume it's the place to be when times get dicey.

If you need money, go ahead and take the profits. If not, this could be the ideal time to cost average by buying more. For instance, if you own 10 ounces at $350 per ounce and buy 10 more at $800 an ounce, your average price per ounce would be $575 — still well below the current value. Will the price go up in the future? Sure. It may drop some more as well. But, as long as we're dependent on oil and international job outsourcing the upside is far more likely.

Dear Peter: I've collected U.S. Christmas stamps for years. I'm curious about what's coming out this year. Also, can you tell me if their value has risen with other collectibles, and are religious stamps from other countries the most popular theme? — S.N. Lodi, Calif.

Wow. A question involving both religion and money. Since 1962, Christmas stamps have been a staple on mail in November and December. Their continued use on Christmas cards makes them one of the last bastions of widespread use versus metered mail.

Possibly the most abundant producer of religious-themed stamps is Vatican City. Since its inception in 1929, they've produced close to 2,000 stamps — most of which feature a religious theme. Some of the early stamps are worth $100 a piece or more.

You won't get rich with any of the Christmas stamps issued in the U.S. because of their abundance. They're printed in huge numbers, so none can be considered rare. And, because the USPS is technically a government agency, the whole separation of church and state thing restricts producing any other than at Christmas. In fact, to be politically correct, for a long time our stamps were referred to as "holiday" stamps — not "Christmas" stamps. And, yet again, politics enter the topic.

This year, a block of four 42-cent stamps featuring classic holiday nutcrackers have been produced to be the "contemporary" stamps. The designs feature Santa, a ruby-crowned king, military captain and a drummer. The "traditional" stamp shows a painting by Botticelli replete with Madonna & Child along with John the Baptist.

Attractive as the stamps may be, don't count on them ever being rare or valuable. For the Holiday Nutcrackers 1.486 billion stamps are being printed along with 600 million Virgin and Child stamps.

First Day of Issue cancels for the Nutcracker stamps are available by mail by purchasing them at a local post office, affixing them to a self-addressed envelope and sending them in a separate mailing envelope to: Holiday Nutcracker Stamps, Postmaster, 421 Eighth Ave., Rm. 2029B, New York, NY 10199-9998. The cancel is free, but all orders MUST be postmarked by Dec. 27, 2008.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the four new "Nutcracker" holiday stamps has been sent with this column.

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

COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.