Broken image URLs at folder level

Hi - I'm experiencing a broken image issue on Sharepoint and am unable to resolve. The same exact images were added to two different folders with the same root directory. But only the 2nd folder below displays the images. The first folder I receive the broken image icon.

Here's how i'm opening the image:
select image (.png) in sharepoint folder > click on 3 dots > click 'Details' > scroll down in the Details panel > click 'Copy Path' (image below) > open in new browser tab

The only difference between these two folders is the following:

1) folder with images that do NOT open: created and uploaded images 3 weeks ago

2) folder with images that do open: create just yesterday and uploaded images yesterday

all else between these two folders is the same (same root directory, content/files, permissions)

Example:

Image path 1) root_folder/folder1/image123.png

Does not display, broken image icon, below

Image path 2) root_folder/folder2/image123.ping

Image displays as expected, below