This was the last date of the Capped Bust Left series, a short-lived though major type which saw little circulation thanks to its exceptional weight and purity. Mint reports show that 50,141 pieces were struck of this historic design, but few were actually released. Most of this mintage was melted to provide bullion for the next issue, the lighter weight Classic Head type that was the first U.S. gold coinage to see extensive active circulation. Over and above this initial scarcity, the Capped Bust coins were struck in two bold obverse varieties, the relatively collectible Plain 4 and the ultra-rare Crosslet 4. Research by the late Harry Bass Jr. demonstrated the existence of two notable varieties exist within the rare Crosslet 4 variety itself. These are the fully close Complete Curl and Broken Curl, that might be more graphically described as the Open Curl obverses.

Close examination of the present Gem example reveals that it is essentially identical to the coin described and plated in The Harry W. Bass Jr. Museum Sylloge (HBCC-3167, page 294): Broken curl above right side of 4, a hair-thin die crack connecting stars 9-13, reverse die crack through 'MERICA, to 'D' in '5D'.

The Dannreuther-Garrett 10-year auction compilation lists 14 Crosslet 4 coins, the highest grade listed being MS-63. NGC has certified only 11 Crosslet 4 pieces in all grades combined, only one having achieved full Gem.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part IV Auction, where it realized $129,250.