A box full of goodies!! Thomas & Merlin Coal Hopper Set w/ Hurricane, Frankie, Lexi +

Most likely you are correct. I'm guessing then that the gold balls were either just added later in production of manufacture or TOMY are making a limited first run of these sets with specifically one gold ball to let themselves know that only the gold ball version can count towards the raffle and then after they would manufacture them without the gold ball? This is just a guess, we will have to wait and see what will come in the future.