I think I just found out what happened with the color difference in the seed-->seed. I am reading about 'color reversal' in bicolor beans. That sounds like a good description of what happened here. Everything else says that it is a regular Vermont cranberry variety and I am more than happy to add it to my collection to replant next year.

Could be the original seed was just older, freshly harvested seed is usually lighter in color. I have one when first shelled is a cream color, within hours it's brown. I have another, like yours the older the seed, the darker it gets.
From one beanaholic to another, welcome to the club :).

Annette