They looked at what was in their till and said they had run out. For it to be truly "random" the staff would have to be restricted from seeing what they are handing out, so they could have no ability to meddle (accidentally or deliberately) with the random chance. I doubt anyone would have a problem with one customer asking at the checkout and being given a coin or two.
I thought maybe you had spotted something I had missed. It would be great if it is a genuine error which people have a chance to find in change, rather than mint sport, but I do not hold much hope of that.
"In my humble opinion it looks like a professional creation" What makes you think that? How would it have been created. At this point I am thinking "it was made at the mint like that", but until more show up in circulation (and I think they should have by now) it could be mint sport.
"Not circulated" and "current owner paid for it - not found it" both lean towards "mint sport" rather than away from it.
After the first lot of photos I was thinking "post mint damage" but after the second lot of photos I am leaning towards "ramstrike". The photos really need to be much better though to have any certainty.
Another new member with a single post in this thread. Someone who is into coins enough to spend a lot on a rare, unusual, PCGS slabbed coin, but only joined and posted in this thread now. Does this seen strange to anyone else?