A 1949 Series E savings bond is worth $136.69 to $147.06 per $25 of face value (the amount printed on the bond) in November 2026, by issue month. A $100 bond is worth $546.76 to $588.24, and a $1,000 bond $5,467.60 to $5,882.40.
Each bond cost 75% of face, so it is worth 7.29 to 7.84 times its price. Every 1949 bond stopped earning interest in 1989, so these values are final.
Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files list them through May 2027. 1949 is the last issue year in which all 7 face values, $10 to $1,000, carry every issue month.
Values for November 2026 (final values)
How Much Is a 1949 Series E Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1949 Series E bond is worth $54.68 (a $10 bond issued January to April) to $5,882.40 (a $1,000 bond issued in December) in November 2026.
See Series E savings bonds, 1941 to 1980, for the rules of the whole series. All 7 face values exist in all 12 issue months, so Table 1 has no "not issued" cell.
Table 1: What a 1949 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 1949 | $54.68 | $136.69 | $273.38 | $546.76 | $1,093.52 | $2,733.80 | $5,467.60 | Jan 1, 1989 |
| February 1949 | $54.68 | $136.69 | $273.38 | $546.76 | $1,093.52 | $2,733.80 | $5,467.60 | Feb 1, 1989 |
| March 1949 | $54.68 | $136.69 | $273.38 | $546.76 | $1,093.52 | $2,733.80 | $5,467.60 | Mar 1, 1989 |
| April 1949 | $54.68 | $136.69 | $273.38 | $546.76 | $1,093.52 | $2,733.80 | $5,467.60 | Apr 1, 1989 |
| May 1949 | $55.21 | $138.02 | $276.04 | $552.08 | $1,104.16 | $2,760.40 | $5,520.80 | May 1, 1989 |
| June 1949 | $57.53 | $143.83 | $287.66 | $575.32 | $1,150.64 | $2,876.60 | $5,753.20 | Jun 1, 1989 |
| July 1949 | $57.53 | $143.83 | $287.66 | $575.32 | $1,150.64 | $2,876.60 | $5,753.20 | Jul 1, 1989 |
| August 1949 | $57.53 | $143.83 | $287.66 | $575.32 | $1,150.64 | $2,876.60 | $5,753.20 | Aug 1, 1989 |
| September 1949 | $57.53 | $143.83 | $287.66 | $575.32 | $1,150.64 | $2,876.60 | $5,753.20 | Sep 1, 1989 |
| October 1949 | $57.53 | $143.83 | $287.66 | $575.32 | $1,150.64 | $2,876.60 | $5,753.20 | Oct 1, 1989 |
| November 1949 | $58.09 | $145.23 | $290.46 | $580.92 | $1,161.84 | $2,904.60 | $5,809.20 | Nov 1, 1989 |
| December 1949 | $58.82 | $147.06 | $294.12 | $588.24 | $1,176.48 | $2,941.20 | $5,882.40 | Dec 1, 1989 |
Note: face values issued in 1949 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); the $10 price from TreasuryDirect's calculator).
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 1949 Savings Bond a War Bond?
A 1949 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 file as any other issue, and Treasury pays no collector premium. For what WWII war bonds, May 1941 to December 1945, are worth now, see war bonds worth now.
Why Every 1949 Bond Stopped Earning Interest in 1989
Every 1949 Series E bond reached final maturity (the date interest stops) between January 1 and December 1, 1989, 40 years after its issue month (31 CFR 316.8(b), eCFR).
- Issue: January to December 1949, at 75% of face
- Original term: 10 years, to 1959 (our calculation)
- Extensions: 40-year life for issues May 1941 to November 1965
- Final maturity: January 1 to December 1, 1989
The value has not changed since. Other savings bonds mature and stop earning interest at different dates; the 30-year life applies only to E bonds issued from December 1965.
Why a December 1949 Bond Is Worth More Than a January 1949 Bond
A December 1949 bond is worth more than a January 1949 bond because Treasury's value file prices it higher: the file groups the 12 months of 1949 into five values.
A $100 bond gains $41.48 from January to December. The largest step falls between May and June 1949: $138.02 to $143.83 per $25, or $552.08 to $575.32 per $100.
December 1948 and January to April 1949 share one value ($136.69 per $25), as do December 1949 and January to April 1950 ($147.06).
Table 2: The five 1949 value groups and the months next to them, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $25 value | $100 value | Interest stopped | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1948 | 1 | $136.69 | $546.76 | Dec 1, 1988 | 1948 Series E savings bond value |
| January to April 1949 | 4 | $136.69 | $546.76 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 1989 | this page |
| May 1949 | 1 | $138.02 | $552.08 | May 1, 1989 | |
| June to October 1949 | 5 | $143.83 | $575.32 | Jun 1 to Oct 1, 1989 | |
| November 1949 | 1 | $145.23 | $580.92 | Nov 1, 1989 | |
| December 1949 | 1 | $147.06 | $588.24 | Dec 1, 1989 | |
| January to April 1950 | 4 | $147.06 | $588.24 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 1990 | 1950 Series E savings bond value |
Note: values never fall from one issue month to the next between May 1948 and June 1951 issues. The $10 bond is priced only through March 1950 issues.
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 1949 Bond Cost, and Why No Interest Rate Gives Its Value
A 1949 Series E bond cost 75% of its face value, $37.50 for a $50 bond and $75 for a $100 bond, and its interest built up inside the value until 1989 (31 CFR 316.2(b)).
The interest is paid only at cashing (31 CFR 315.30): $235.88 to $256.62 on a $50 bond and $471.76 to $513.24 on a $100 bond.
Treasury's value file, not a rate you apply yourself, sets what a 1949 bond pays. Compounding an assumed rate, such as the "6% annual interest" in a common forum question, gives a different number from the $273.38 to $294.12 Treasury pays for a 1949 $50 bond. A 1949 bond is never Series EE.
Which Face Values Were Issued in 1949: The Last Year of All Seven
Treasury's calculator prices 1949 Series E bonds in 7 face values, $10, $25, $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1,000, and every one of them carries all 12 issue months.
- $10: $7.50; $54.68 to $58.82
- $25: $18.75; $136.69 to $147.06
- $50: $37.50; $273.38 to $294.12
- $100: $75; $546.76 to $588.24
- $200: $150; $1,093.52 to $1,176.48
- $500: $375; $2,733.80 to $2,941.20
- $1,000: $750; $5,467.60 to $5,882.40
1949 is the last of the four issue years, 1946 to 1949, with all 7 face values in every month, because the calculator prices the $10 bond only for June 1944 to March 1950 issues.
The December 1949 $10 bond ($58.82) shares the highest value of any $10 Series E bond with January to March 1950 issues. There is no $5,000 Series E bond.
Which Savings Bonds Were Sold in 1949: Series E, F and G
A savings bond bought in 1949 is one of 3 series: Series E (75% of face), Series F (74% of face) or Series G (bought at face value, interest paid by check).
F and G ran 12 years, are paid at face today (G plus $1.25 per $100) and are cashed only by mail with FS Form 1522.
Table 3: Savings bonds sold in 1949: 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 (1989) | 12 years after issue (1961, our calculation) | 12 years after issue (1961, our calculation) |
| Paid today | Table 1 value ($136.69 to $147.06 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).
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1949 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1949 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 calculator is Treasury's free tool and marks Series E bonds "MA". It does not verify a bond; banks use Treasury's Savings Bond Valuation and Verification (SBVV) tool, which serves paying agents only (instructions, PDF).
A Social Security number was not required on a 1949 bond; it became required for bonds issued from January 1, 1974 (31 CFR 316.2(c)(1)).
Cashing a 1949 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1949 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. See how to cash savings bonds for the cashing routes for paper bonds.
Banks may cash paper bonds but need not (FS Publication 0022, Rev. October 2022), and may not charge you (31 CFR 321.23(c)). Your Social Security number goes on the bond (31 CFR 315.39(a)).
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.
Signature certification is needed only when the total is above $1,000. Any one 1949 bond of $100 or less (at most $588.24) needs none, nor does a December $100 plus a December $50 ($882.36). Any one $200 bond ($1,093.52 to $1,176.48), two December $100 bonds ($1,176.48) and any $500 or $1,000 bond do.
Tax Year 1989: When Interest on a 1949 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1949 bond that was never cashed became reportable for tax year 1989, the year of its final maturity, unless the owner reported it earlier (31 CFR 316.9; IRS Publication 550).
The interest is $471.76 to $513.24 per $100 bond, federally taxable and exempt from state and local 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 1949 Bonds
Five situations change what an owner or heir does with a 1949 bond: lost, inherited, inherited with unreported interest, found, or held only in Treasury records.
Table 4: Lost, found or inherited 1949 bonds
| Situation | Rule for a 1949 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 1949 bonds that is December 1995 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 the bond's final maturity in 1989, 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 1989 (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 | Owner records for a bond over 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.
- 1947 Series E savings bond value
- 1948 Series E savings bond value
- 1950 Series E savings bond value
- 1951 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
1949 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $25 savings bond from 1949 worth today?
A $25 savings bond from 1949 is worth $136.69 to $147.06 in November 2026, final values; it cost $18.75.
How much is a $200 savings bond from 1949 worth?
A $200 Series E bond issued in 1949 is worth $1,093.52 (January to April) to $1,176.48 (December) in November 2026, final values; it cost $150. Every one is above $1,000, so FS Form 1522 by mail needs a certified signature.
How much are $50 savings bonds from 1949 worth?
A $50 Series E bond from 1949 is worth $273.38 (January to April) to $294.12 (December) in November 2026; it cost $37.50. The value comes from Treasury's file, not from a rate such as 6%.
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1949 worth?
A $1,000 savings bond from 1949 is worth $5,467.60 to $5,882.40 in November 2026, final values; it cost $750. By mail it needs a certified signature.
How much is a $10 savings bond from 1949 worth?
A $10 Series E bond from 1949 is worth $54.68 to $58.82 in November 2026; it cost $7.50. December 1949 is the highest $10 Series E value; see $10 Series E values by issue year.
Can you still cash a 1949 Series E savings bond?
Yes: a 1949 Series E bond does not expire and can be cashed at any time (31 CFR 315.35(c); EO 13968, 85 FR 83745). It has earned nothing since 1989, and Treasury pays only the registered owner or a person entitled (31 CFR 315.35(a), 315.39).
Has the value of a 1949 savings bond changed since 2022?
No: a 1949 bond is worth the same in November 2026 as in 2022, because interest stopped in 1989. The value files show one figure in every month from May 1992 through May 2027, and Treasury's discontinued redemption tables (last updated November 3, 2022) match them.
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.