1983 Topps Traded Asterisk variations
 

Question - is there any accepted explanation for why some traded sets were issued with 1 asterisk per card and some with 2?

Is it related to some specific production factor other than oops...someone added a second asterisk?

They did that on a lot of small sets, back into the 70's

I think, but am not sure it was to sort of identify which sheet a particular card was from. That doesn't completely make sense since some sets have it like the late 70's hockey inserts and the 74 team checklists, but some don't, like the 77 cloth sticker puzzle/checklists.

I've also heard that it was an indicator of sheets that were redone in some way, but again, it's inconsistent.

My best sensible guess is because - Topps.