BiographyJon P. Amato, Ph. D. Jon Amato received his doctorate degree in economic geography from the University of Toronto. He taught at Buffalo State College and the State University of New York at Albany for several years, and also worked as a program manager in the field of economic development for the states of Arizona and New York. He then joined the staff of Heritage Auctions as a numismatic researcher and cataloger. Amato is the author of numerous economic geography, economic development, and numismatic publications. His numismatic works include: "Surviving 1796-97 Draped Bust Half Dollars and Their Grade Distribution," John Reich Journal, February 2005; The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens as Illustrated by the Phillip H. Morse Collection (with James Halperin, Mark Van Winkle, and Gregory Rohan), 2006; "Jules Reiver's 1796-1797 Draped Bust Half Dollars," John Reich Journal, April 2007; "Breakup of the 1796-1797 Half Dollar Reverse A," John Reich Journal, May 2012; and "American Indian Treaty Payments," The Numismatist, November 2010. The latter article was awarded "Large Club Publications Best Article" by the Numismatic Literary Guild, August 2011. Amato's recent publication posted on Amazon, The Draped Bust Half Dollars of 1796-1797: Numismatic Background and Census, was published by Heritage Auctions in December 2012. This 338-page book is the culmination of more than 10 years of research into this two-year design type, and includes an illustrated discourse of the four Overton varieties and one major did state. Additionally, it features a census of 270 Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar specimens. A full page is devoted to each coin, including an obverse and reverse image, a description of key identification markers, and the provenance for each. Heritage has also set up a special web page, HA.com/JonAmato, which will feature periodic updates of new discoveries in the 1796-1797 half dollar census, as well as information about recent results for the coins at auction.