1959 Topps Haywood variation question

[AGuinness]

I just received a card I bought via eBay: a PSA 5 1959 Topps Haywood Sullivan 'no circle, U.S.A' card (no circle on the copyright, no period after 'A') variation. I took a close look, and it looked to me like there was a very light period after the 'A,' however.
I couldn't tell from the listing this light period was there, and it there was nothing wrong with the photo on the listing. It looked like there was no period.
Attached are two photos I took, one of the lower back or the card and a look with my loupe close up on the punctuation in question.
Does anyone know if this light/faded/faint period is typical for this variation, or if some shenanigans are going on?
Side note: I bought an example of the other variation (no circle, but with the period after the 'A') from COMC last fall. When it arrived, it looked like it had a faint circle around the copyright and I sent it back. Is it possible that these "variations" aren't really a lack of these marks, but just very lightly printed? I typically think that a variation that notes it doesn't have something should, you know, not have it. :P
Thanks for the help!