Sayaji Rao III, Special Mint Commemorative Proof Set of all the Copper and Silver Coins dated VS 1949 (AD 1893), machine struck (16). The Specially packed Proof Set is encased in a purple velvet box with the round coin-like bust of the king and two half circles, above and below it mentioning the name and titles of the Maharaja. The Set has 2 sets of all the silver and copper coins of the VS 1949 with two tickets, silver and copper respectively, mentioning in Gujarati, * Yaadgiri tankashaalaani * Vadodara / and (AD) date 1893 in centre (= Memento of Mint, Vadodara 1893). Both the tickets are unifaced. The mint tickets have been engraved in a haste and can be found from a number of tell-e-tell signs, like Tanka of tankashaalaani was originally engraved as Thanka, and than erased and corrected; …shaala is engraved as …shaalaa with extra matra for the longer vowel; and most importantly, the legend is engraved by a less-experienced engraver who has unnecessarily given more angles in most of all the letters than needed. Following coins in duplicate are included in the Proof Set: 1 Rupee (2) Both are About Proof; ½ Rupee (2) Both are Proof, the first has a die-crack on obv; 4 Annas (2) Both are About Prrof, the first has a die-crack across rev, the second has minor die-defects; 2 Annas (2) Both are About Proof with the second has some minor scratches; 2 Paise (2) Both are Proof with the first has a die-engraving mistake in engraving 9 of 1949 by engraving the digit 9 as upside 4 in Nagari; 1 Paisa(2) Both are Proof with a die-crack on obv and both are from the same dies; and 1 Pai (2) Both are Proof. In order to get the maximum impact of striking to achieve the sharpest impressions, most of the coins are struck twice, which is a normal practice in Proof coins. Another important point that appears from the use of dies is that it indicates that the coin dies were not used fresh as for being used in Patterns. On the contrary, the dies employed here are many a times over-used and had developed cracks which can be found in thin lines in terms of “die-cracks” that are embossed on the face of the coins. Baroda State imported new machinery to mint coins mechanically in AD 1893 (VS 1948-49). Since it was a totally new system of minting coins, the Mint had prepared this set of all the coins that were minted by this machinery, and presented to commemorate the introduction of new machinery. The design of the box, placement of the coins with the Mint Ticket and overall appeal of the Coin Box indicate that the box of Commemorative Proof Set Coins was either presented to the King himself or to a British officer of very high grade. In either case, this seems to be the first Proof Set of India! A Great Rarity and a chance of a life time.