Commemorative coins of the GDR were minted from 1966 (10 Schinkel marks) in denominations of 5, 10 and 20 marks and were mostly not intended for circulation. A large part was sold at a premium and for foreign exchange to collectors in Western countries. The coins were minted in copper-nickel-zinc or silver. A total of 121 different 5, 10 and 20 mark coins were issued, three of the 5 mark coins were issued with the same motif in different years (Brandenburg Gate, Meissen, Wartburg).

The 20 Mark coin of 1990 was issued in silver and copper-nickel-zinc (nickel silver). All issues were issued in their normal version (st, vz-st). There are also issues in polished plate (PP) for certain designs, but these are sometimes very rare.