The first coinage in the German Democratic Republic caused a flurry of turbulence. The date of issue was settled for July 2, 1956 and the decree to start coinage came on June 15. The supply of coin metals was ensured, yet in the course of June it came out that the necessary steel for the coin dies had not been ordered. Moreover, a special kind of screws was missing. These materials could not simply be purchased since the mint had gotten the commission for coinage in mid-year, so that the necessary items were not scheduled in the annual material plan for 1956. For this reason the mint officials tried to enforce a top priority level for coinage. They were successful, so that in the end the new coins of the DDR could be supplied just in time.