Value of Savings Bonds to collectors
Wednesday, April 26th, 2006
Categorized as: Current value of a US Savings Bond
About once a month I receive a question about the value of a Savings Bond as a collector’s item. I typically refer the questioner to eBay, but before today I’d never actually seen a Savings Bond offered on eBay.
Now we have some data. This eBay auction for a $25 E bond issued December 1954 had a winning bid of $18.26. The actual value of the bond to the heirs of the owner would have been $177.53.
The auction began on April 5, 2006 with a starting bid of $9.99. It ended on April 12, 2006 and had three bidders.
Because Savings Bonds are registered securities, only the persons named on the bond or their heirs can cash them. Collectors are unable to redeem them for their actual value.
(Average rating: 4.18 stars)
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Tom Adams
Perhaps if they are named “Patriot Bond” or “Gulf Coast Recovery Bond” etc. they might fetch a good price in 30 years? Definitely should be a low denomination, otherwise the bond will be worth too much actual value. What other savings bonds with special inscription were there over the years?
Interesting information. One of my friends, he is over 80 years old, has two bonds. One was issued July, 1942 ($50) and the other was issued on D Day, June 6, 1944 ($25). He is trying to find out how much they would be worth to a collector.
I know of only one report of a 1942 E bond selling for more than its redemption value. That took place on eBay and was in all likelihood a rigged auction (designed to make old Savings Bonds look like they’re worth more than they are). My memory is that the same seller had other Savings Bonds for sale that didn’t even bring in their face value, much less their redemption value.
Tom Adams
My dad has 2 war savings e bonds. one was issued in June 1944 for $50 and the other is a hand-written bond issued July 1942 for $25. He wants to decide if saving them is better than cashing them in for the value. Based on what you said previously, it sounds like there is not much of a market but is there any and where would we most likely find it? Thanks for your time.
Hi Arlene – if there’s no market on eBay, I can’t imagine there would be a market anywhere else, but I’m not an expert in this area.
Tom Adams
Hi-Want to sell two U S Savings Bonds E Series June 1946 $10.00 Any suggestions?
Hi Dan – when people start posting here that they want to buy old Savings Bonds I’ll have suggestions. I don’t think that’s going to happen, though.
Tom Adams
I have a $1,000 water works bond from year 1932 stamped 1952 year paid are ready signed by all three people and searching for how much this bond is worth today on the market.
I was wondering if Series E savings bonds with the picture of George Washington have any collector value. (greater than the cash-in value)$25 dollar face value.
Also Series E with a picture of Independence Hall, with the words 1776 Bicentenial 1976.
Linda – use the calculator at the top of this page, right side. You’ll find the cash-in value of the bond is a lot more than $25 (and also a lot more than a collector will pay for it).
Tom Adams
As a WWII collector, I bought a May 1943 E series bond, 25 dollar face value for one hundred dollars. As far as the government is concerned I can’t get anything for it. I think the 1954 bond offered here as proof of no after-market does not give a fair assessment of the collector value. The Korean War had ended and to the buyer, they are simply buying a 55 year old piece of paper. A WWII bond on the other hand you are buying a symbol of American will and the meaning behind all of the “Buy War Bond” drives.
I was wondering if Robert who posted on January 1st 2010 would be interested in buying another E Series War Bond in beautiful condition? It is dated 8/1943. It’s face value is also $25.00 and worth a little over $102.00.