Bonsour AL,
Looks like The New Frontier had some extra older strikes. Rather come up with some new designs. Someone there got the bright idea of buying some empty blue cases. And taking the older strikes out of the clear cases. And putting them in the blue ones.
This way they accomplished several things. 1st they could possibally get rid of the older strikes (and cheaply). 2nd, get more play on the machine, because more people will play the machine. Thinking that there was something new and special in the machine.(You and I both is a example of this) 3ed, make more money, from a slot machine. That probally wasn't making as much as they wanted it to make. 4th, some other reason; that I haven't thought of. Or I am not aware of.
I kinda look at it this way. Even thought the strikes are the same, the cases aren't. So that series in the blue caps is another different series.
Hope this helps you AL.
Danny