The safety has always been in the trigger guard of the A5. Early guns had a front-to-rear safety in the front of the trigger guard. Yours should have the later style crossbolt safety behind the trigger. Plain barrel Sweet Sixteens in excellent condition will bring $1000. They drop off fast as they get toward 80% condition. In 'VG' condition, $650.
Before the 1950's.
See the link below
Answer If the gun has a cross bolt safety, it means that it was converted by Browning. This gun was made with the safety in the front of the trigger guard. Many times the gun would be converted and the new trigger was blued. If your safety is in the front of the trigger guard, then best explanation would be that it was replaced from repair, or that the gun was refinished. A sweet 16 that came from the factory at FN would be rare not to have a gold trigger. The answer is most likely something else besides a mistake from FN. If it's important to you, contact Browning and see if you can have them plate or replace your trigger.
$45
no
The Browning Sweet sixteen, will have the words "Sweet Sixteen" stamped or engraved on the receiver after the 1948-1950 time period. Prior to Sweet Sixteen being engraved on the legend which is the left side of the receiver, Sweets from 1937-40 and 46-49 are not stamped. If you have one of these guns, the gun will have a faded gold trigger - not blued. This is the most obvious sign. To be sure remove the forend. If the Barrel ring that slides over the magazine tube has three holes in it, then it is a sweet, providing the barrel serial number matches the receiver. So, check the trigger and barrel. Two other differences can be detected, but it's more info than needed to answer your question.
The gold trigger usually means that a Browning A5 is a Lightweight,in this case a Sweet Sixteen made after 1947. However, the sweet Sixteen was available from 1937 with this option and it has nothing to do with the value of the gun. Choke,barrel type,stock type and most of all condition are the driving factors with these guns. === === A pre war sweet 16 (1937-1939) has a gold trigger as did all Sweets. 1947 has no bearing on the question above. The script lettering on the left side of the receiver saying "Sweet Sixteen" showed up in 1948 + 49. Provide the serial number to determine year of mfg, and condition, then re-ask your question on Wikpedia.
It always had one from the beginning when they were introduced in 1937.
Check the barrel and receiver.
CHeck the receiver and barrel.
They came in different lengths.
100-500 USD depending on condition.