I confirmed it - this is your old bike! The dimple is there.
I went to have it inspected (Ohio requires out of state vehicles to have the title matched to the vehicle vin for vin). We couldn't find the vin, but the inspector gave it the go ahead anyway (out of pity, I assume). I'm headed out to the garage to put on the new plate, hit it w/ some rubbing compound to get some of the light swirls out and put on a tank pad.
the vin is on the right side of the head tube. The coater masked it off with a piece of tape. If you look there will be a long rectangular lump where the tape is. To see the vin you'd have to cut it off and expose the frame metal.
It was gold but all you'd see would be raw metal left from the sand blasting process.
I can't believe the let you go without seeing that vin!
PA needs to see it in person or a rubbing is ok too.