"I've read that at times" is "the most plausible"?
I'm glad you won't be on my jury.
Come to Germany, we abandoned juries 100 yeaes ago... because as jury member you yourself would not be a fair one, as you just are guessing why I find it plausible,.
Well, I tell you: I already indicated why I consider a mishap at production unlikely, you neglected that. More so as there had been final product quality controls.
And major manufacturers as Canon and Nikon over years designated their cameras differently per markets, whithout any tradename issues, but seemingly to keep supplies apart.
What speaks against this is the high price asked for such which makes one think rather of a mishap or a limited lot for other reasons, than a market-dependant lot. But as said I am ignorant on Minolta lenses, and I did not check on this, so that seller might just have done a price guess himself, assuming it a mishap.
But now it is up to you to spread your wisdom on lens production in general and this very case in particular...