Very strange. Can’t say I’ve ever seen that before. If you haven’t already put your serial number through the data base here. Serial Number Database | Ernie Ball Music Man
That will give you more information.
Nice looking Bongo btw
Maybe, but many of the other Egyptian Smoke bongos i've seen (including the one i have right here with me, F14720) had dots, too. Was that a limited/special run?