A 1946 Series E savings bond is worth $117.28 to $123.38 per $25 of face value in November 2026, by issue month: $469.12 to $493.52 for a $100 bond and $4,691.20 to $4,935.20 for a $1,000 bond.
Bought at 75% of face, each is worth 6.25 to 6.58 times its price. Interest stopped in 1986, so the values are final.
Face value is the amount printed on the bond. 1946 is the first issue year in which all 7 face values, $10 to $1,000, carry every issue month, per TreasuryDirect's savings bond calculator. Values come from Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files.
Values for November 2026 (final values)
How Much Is a 1946 Series E Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1946 Series E bond is worth $46.91 (a $10 bond issued January to April) to $4,935.20 (a $1,000 bond issued in December) in November 2026. See Series E savings bonds for the rules, 1941 to 1980. All 7 face values appear in all 12 months, so Table 1 has no "not issued" cell.
Table 1: What a 1946 Series E savings bond is worth in November 2026, by issue month and face value
| Issue month | $10 | $25 | $50 | $100 | $200 | $500 | $1,000 | Interest stopped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1946 | $46.91 | $117.28 | $234.56 | $469.12 | $938.24 | $2,345.60 | $4,691.20 | Jan 1, 1986 |
| February 1946 | $46.91 | $117.28 | $234.56 | $469.12 | $938.24 | $2,345.60 | $4,691.20 | Feb 1, 1986 |
| March 1946 | $46.91 | $117.28 | $234.56 | $469.12 | $938.24 | $2,345.60 | $4,691.20 | Mar 1, 1986 |
| April 1946 | $46.91 | $117.28 | $234.56 | $469.12 | $938.24 | $2,345.60 | $4,691.20 | Apr 1, 1986 |
| May 1946 | $47.36 | $118.41 | $236.82 | $473.64 | $947.28 | $2,368.20 | $4,736.40 | May 1, 1986 |
| June 1946 | $48.10 | $120.25 | $240.50 | $481.00 | $962.00 | $2,405.00 | $4,810.00 | Jun 1, 1986 |
| July 1946 | $48.10 | $120.25 | $240.50 | $481.00 | $962.00 | $2,405.00 | $4,810.00 | Jul 1, 1986 |
| August 1946 | $48.10 | $120.25 | $240.50 | $481.00 | $962.00 | $2,405.00 | $4,810.00 | Aug 1, 1986 |
| September 1946 | $48.10 | $120.25 | $240.50 | $481.00 | $962.00 | $2,405.00 | $4,810.00 | Sep 1, 1986 |
| October 1946 | $48.10 | $120.25 | $240.50 | $481.00 | $962.00 | $2,405.00 | $4,810.00 | Oct 1, 1986 |
| November 1946 | $48.57 | $121.42 | $242.84 | $485.68 | $971.36 | $2,428.40 | $4,856.80 | Nov 1, 1986 |
| December 1946 | $49.35 | $123.38 | $246.76 | $493.52 | $987.04 | $2,467.60 | $4,935.20 | Dec 1, 1986 |
Note: face values issued in 1946 are $10, $25, $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1,000, in every issue month (TreasuryDirect calculator windows). Prices are 75% of face (31 CFR 316.2(b)).
Source: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Savings Bonds Value Files (Fiscal Data, dataset 015-BFS-2014Q3-094, updated November 2, 2026), redemption month November 2026. Values for each face value are the file's $25-unit value times face/25; Series E values have not changed since final maturity.
Is a 1946 Savings Bond a War Bond?
A 1946 savings bond is a Series E bond sold after the war-bond years: Treasury calls Series E "the 'War Bond' of 1942-45 and subsequently just the savings bond" (TreasuryDirect). Its value follows the same Series E table as a war bond of the same face, with no collector premium. See war bonds worth now for the May 1941 to December 1945 window.
Why Every 1946 Bond Stopped Earning Interest in 1986
Every 1946 Series E bond reached final maturity (the date interest stops) between January 1 and December 1, 1986, 40 years after its issue month (31 CFR 316.8(b)).
- Issue: January to December 1946, at 75% of face
- Original term: 10 years, to 1956 (our calculation)
- Extensions: 40-year life for issues May 1941 to November 1965
- Final maturity: January 1 to December 1, 1986
Other savings bonds mature and stop earning interest at different dates; the 30-year life applies only to E bonds issued from December 1965 (31 CFR Part 316).
Why a December 1946 Bond Is Worth More Than a January 1946 Bond
A December 1946 bond is worth more than a January 1946 bond because each issue month reached its 40-year final maturity at a different date, and the value file prices the 12 months in five groups (Table 2). A $100 bond gains $24.40 from January to December.
December 1945 and January to April 1946 share one value, $117.28 per $25, as do December 1946 and January to April 1947 at $123.38.
Table 2: The five 1946 value groups and the months next to them, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $25 value | $100 value | Interest stopped | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1945 | 1 | $117.28 | $469.12 | Dec 1, 1985 | 1945 Series E savings bond value |
| January to April 1946 | 4 | $117.28 | $469.12 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 1986 | this page |
| May 1946 | 1 | $118.41 | $473.64 | May 1, 1986 | |
| June to October 1946 | 5 | $120.25 | $481.00 | Jun 1 to Oct 1, 1986 | |
| November 1946 | 1 | $121.42 | $485.68 | Nov 1, 1986 | |
| December 1946 | 1 | $123.38 | $493.52 | Dec 1, 1986 | |
| January to April 1947 | 4 | $123.38 | $493.52 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 1987 | 1947 Series E savings bond value |
Note: values never fall from one issue month to the next between May 1941 and April 1948.
Source: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Savings Bonds Value Files (Fiscal Data, dataset 015-BFS-2014Q3-094, updated November 2, 2026), redemption month November 2026. Values for each face value are the file's $25-unit value times face/25; Series E values have not changed since final maturity.
What a 1946 Bond Cost and How It Grew for 40 Years
A 1946 Series E bond cost 75% of its face value, $18.75 for a $25 bond and $75 for a $100 bond, and its interest built up inside the value until 1986 (31 CFR 316.2(b)). Treasury pays that interest only when you cash the bond (31 CFR 315.30).
A $100 bond carries $394.12 to $418.52 of it and a $1,000 bond $3,941.20 to $4,185.20. A 1946 bond never sold at 50% of face (paper Series EE, from 1980).
Which Face Values Were Issued in 1946: All Seven, Every Month
Treasury's calculator prices 1946 Series E bonds in 7 face values, $10, $25, $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1,000, and every one carries all 12 issue months. Issue prices and 1946 values follow.
- $10: $7.50; $46.91 to $49.35
- $25: $18.75; $117.28 to $123.38
- $50: $37.50; $234.56 to $246.76
- $100: $75; $469.12 to $493.52
- $200: $150; $938.24 to $987.04
- $500: $375; $2,345.60 to $2,467.60
- $1,000: $750; $4,691.20 to $4,935.20
1946 is the first full year of the $200 bond: TreasuryDirect's calculator accepts $200 issue dates from October 1945, and Treasury's history of the savings bond (1991) calls it a memorial denomination for President Roosevelt.
The $10 is priced for June 1944 to March 1950 issues, so 1946 to 1949 are the only issue years with all 7 faces in every month.
Which Savings Bonds Were Sold in 1946: Series E, F and G
A savings bond bought in 1946 is one of 3 series: Series E (75% of face), Series F (74% of face) or Series G (bought at face, interest paid by check). F and G ran 12 years and are cashed only by mail with FS Form 1522. Table 3 compares the three.
Table 3: Savings bonds sold in 1946: Series E, F and G
| Attribute | Series E | Series F and G savings bonds (Series F) | Series G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 75% of face | 74% of face | face value |
| Interest | added to the value | added to the value (12 years) | paid by Treasury check every 6 months |
| Interest stopped | 40 years after issue (1986) | 12 years after issue (1958, our calculation) | 12 years after issue (1958, our calculation) |
| Paid today | Table 1 value ($117.28 to $123.38 per $25) | face value | face plus a final $1.25 per $100 |
| Where to cash | a financial institution that cashes savings bonds, or FS Form 1522 by mail | FS Form 1522 by mail | FS Form 1522 by mail |
Sources: 31 CFR 316.2(b); 31 CFR 315.35(b), (d); TreasuryDirect historical and retired bonds page (as of November 11, 2026).
A bond issued under the Armed Forces Leave Act of 1946 is an Armed Forces Leave Bond, not a Series E bond. Only the owner or a survivor can cash it, survivors use FS Form 2066 (Rev. October 2022), and Treasury pays by check. See the Armed Forces Leave Bonds with the war bonds.
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1946 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1946 Series E bond by its issue month and face value; the serial number and the name printed on it do not change the value. Our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files, prices paper Series E bonds.
- Check that the bond says Series E.
- Read the issue date on a paper savings bond: month and year, upper right (31 CFR 316.2(c)(2), (d)).
- Ignore the validation date, lower right.
- Read the face value.
- Find the row and column in Table 1.
TreasuryDirect's free calculator marks Series E bonds "MA" (matured). A Social Security number was not required on a 1946 bond (31 CFR 316.2(c)(1): required from January 1, 1974).
Cashing a 1946 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1946 Series E bond is cashed at a financial institution that cashes savings bonds or by mail with FS Form 1522, and Treasury charges no fee (TreasuryDirect, as of November 11, 2026). See how to cash savings bonds for the paper bond routes.
Banks may cash paper bonds but need not (FS Publication 0022, Rev. October 2022), and may not charge you (31 CFR 321.23(c)). Write your Social Security number on the bond (31 CFR 315.39(a)); a beneficiary brings the certified death certificate.
The mail route uses FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026; PDF, TreasuryDirect), sent with the bond to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150. Treasury says 3 months or longer in your name, 5 months or longer if not (TreasuryDirect, November 11, 2026). You can cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
A request of $1,000 or less needs no signature certification: any one 1946 $200 bond ($938.24 to $987.04) or two December $100 bonds ($987.04). Above $1,000 a notary or certifying officer must certify your signature, as for a December $200 plus a December $25 bond ($1,110.42).
Tax Year 1986: When Interest on a 1946 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1946 bond that was never cashed became reportable for tax year 1986, the year of its final maturity, unless the owner reported it yearly or cashed the bond earlier (31 CFR 316.9; 26 U.S.C. 454; IRS Publication 550).
The interest is subject to federal income tax and exempt from state and local income tax (31 CFR 316.9(a)). Ask a tax professional about a missed year; see federal tax on savings bond interest.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1946 Bonds
Five situations change what an owner or heir does with a 1946 bond: lost, inherited, inherited with unreported interest, found, or held in Treasury records. Table 4 gives the rule for each.
Table 4: Lost, found or inherited 1946 bonds
| Situation | Rule for a 1946 bond | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Lost, stolen or destroyed | Claim on FS Form 1048 (Revised March 2026). Claims 6 years or more after final maturity need the serial number (31 CFR 315.29(c)); for 1946 bonds that is December 1992 at the latest (our calculation). Treasury Hunt has been unavailable since September 30, 2025. | FS Form 1048 claim for lost, stolen or destroyed savings bonds |
| Owner has died | The surviving "OR" co-owner or the P.O.D. (payable-on-death) beneficiary takes the bond, otherwise the estate (31 CFR 315.70). | savings bonds after death |
| Inherited, interest never reported | If the owner died before final maturity, interest earned before death is income in respect of a decedent unless reported on the owner's final return. If the owner was alive at final maturity, the interest was reportable for 1986 (26 CFR 1.454-1(a)(1); IRS Publication 550). | taxes on inherited savings bonds |
| Found among papers | The value comes from Table 1. Check the owner name, co-owner and beneficiary before cashing. | found old savings bonds |
| Held in Treasury records, not in hand | Records of a bond more than 3 years past final maturity may be shared with a State that has an information-sharing agreement (31 U.S.C. 3105(f)); none is publicly known as of November 11, 2026 (89 FR 102735, December 18, 2024). | unclaimed savings bonds |
Other Issue Years and Face Values
The same tables cover the neighboring issue years and every face value, listed below.
- 1944 Series E savings bond value
- 1945 Series E savings bond value
- 1947 Series E savings bond value
- 1948 Series E savings bond value
- $10 savings bond worth (Series E, 1944 to 1950)
- $25 savings bond worth
- $50 savings bond worth
- $100 savings bond worth
- $200 savings bond worth
- $500 savings bond worth
- $1,000 savings bond worth
1946 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $25 savings bond from 1946 worth today?
A $25 savings bond from 1946 is worth $117.28 to $123.38 in November 2026, final values. It cost $18.75.
How much is a $200 savings bond from 1946 worth?
A $200 Series E bond issued in 1946 is worth $938.24 (January to April) to $987.04 (December) in November 2026, final values. It cost $150.
Can you still cash a 1946 Series E savings bond?
Yes: a 1946 Series E bond does not expire and can be cashed at any time (31 CFR 315.35(c); EO 13968, 85 FR 83745).
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1946 worth?
A $1,000 savings bond from 1946 is worth $4,691.20 to $4,935.20 in November 2026, final values. It cost $750.
How much is a $10 savings bond from 1946 worth?
A $10 Series E bond from 1946 is worth $46.91 to $49.35 in November 2026, final values. It cost $7.50. See the $10 Series E values by issue year.
Is a 1946 savings bond worth more to a collector?
Treasury pays a 1946 bond's redemption value, $117.28 to $123.38 per $25 in November 2026, and no collector premium. Treasury pays only the registered owner or a person entitled (31 CFR 315.39(b)).
Will a 1946 savings bond be worth more next year?
No: a 1946 bond is worth the same next year as in November 2026, because interest stopped in 1986. The value files show one figure for every month from May 1992 to May 2027.
Claiming from Treasury and from state programs costs nothing, and the forms are free. Found bonds you cannot cash, or a relative's bonds? ClaimMyBonds is a private company, not the government; we can help with the paperwork, tracing and follow-up.