maxxheadroom:
Now if I hold the FTDI board so the dimple is in the top right corner I do notice that there are two pins soldered together. With that orientation the two pins soldered together would be the 3rd and 4th pin in from the bottom right is this a mistake or correct from the factory
That is the most complicated way I have heard to count pins.
The dimple marks Pin 1. Pins are counted down that side and back up the other. So if it is a 24 pin package the two pins on top are 1 and 24. The two on the bottom are 11 and 12.
This is a standard way for IC pins to be numbered.
Are you saying Pins 3 and 4 are shorted together or 18 and 19?
You can also look at the datasheet for the FT232RL. You'll see a couple of the pins around package can be shorted together.