pattern half sovereigns 1887 to 1901

[Mister T]

I was having a flick through some of my catalogues and it looks like there are a mysterious pieces in this series - mysterious in that a few are recorded but there don't seem to be any images or recorded sales. I'm not sure what was going on at the Sydney and Melbourne Mints but it looks like coins were struck in most years, yet plenty of examples weren't put aside as part of the mint collection(s).

Has anyone seen pictures of or know of any sales of any 1888M, 1892S or 1901M half sovereigns? They're mentioned in catalogues but if any have been sold recently it must have been pre-Internet.

Also, I can see that 1890M and 1892M half sovereigns exist: https://numistip.com/view/1890m_pattern_half_sovereign_629.html and https://numistip.com/view/1892m_pattern_half_sovereign_633.html
But does anyone know where those images are from? I'm assuming they're from a recent auction (last 10 to 15 years probably) but I can't find anything.

[Mister T]

As an update, the 1888M and 1901M were both present in the Murdoch Collection: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=511728&AuctionId=525399
But that was in 1903.

[Basilstate]

I'm not sure Mr. T.,i know Sovereigns,including fakes, got  regular mentions in 'Coin World' magazine back in the 1960's,i have the full collection so wil try and find some articles next time i have them out.
Not sure about Melbourne Mint but it was fairly well established by researchers and historians that there was corruption at the Sydney Mint,only doubt was to what extent but when talking about Gold anything is possible,the pre Depression 1920's were tough times.