A 1951 Series E savings bond is worth $162.60 to $170.65 per $25 of face value (the amount printed on the bond) in November 2026, by issue month: $650.40 to $682.60 for a $100 bond and $6,504.00 to $6,826.00 for a $1,000 bond. Every 1951 bond stopped earning interest in 1991, so these values are final.
Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files price all 12 issue months, and Treasury's calculator accepts six face values in each. Every 1951 month is worth more than any 1950 month.
Values for November 2026 (final values)
How Much Is a 1951 Series E Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1951 Series E bond is worth $162.60 (a $25 bond issued January to April) to $6,826.00 (a $1,000 bond issued in December) in November 2026, final values. See Series E savings bonds, 1941 to 1980, for the rules.
Table 1: What a 1951 Series E savings bond is worth in November 2026, by issue month and face value (final values)
| Issue month | $25 | $50 | $100 | $200 | $500 | $1,000 | Interest stopped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1951 | $162.60 | $325.20 | $650.40 | $1,300.80 | $3,252.00 | $6,504.00 | Jan 1, 1991 |
| February 1951 | $162.60 | $325.20 | $650.40 | $1,300.80 | $3,252.00 | $6,504.00 | Feb 1, 1991 |
| March 1951 | $162.60 | $325.20 | $650.40 | $1,300.80 | $3,252.00 | $6,504.00 | Mar 1, 1991 |
| April 1951 | $162.60 | $325.20 | $650.40 | $1,300.80 | $3,252.00 | $6,504.00 | Apr 1, 1991 |
| May 1951 | $164.16 | $328.32 | $656.64 | $1,313.28 | $3,283.20 | $6,566.40 | May 1, 1991 |
| June 1951 | $166.61 | $333.22 | $666.44 | $1,332.88 | $3,332.20 | $6,664.40 | Jun 1, 1991 |
| July 1951 | $166.60 | $333.20 | $666.40 | $1,332.80 | $3,332.00 | $6,664.00 | Jul 1, 1991 |
| August 1951 | $166.60 | $333.20 | $666.40 | $1,332.80 | $3,332.00 | $6,664.00 | Aug 1, 1991 |
| September 1951 | $166.60 | $333.20 | $666.40 | $1,332.80 | $3,332.00 | $6,664.00 | Sep 1, 1991 |
| October 1951 | $166.60 | $333.20 | $666.40 | $1,332.80 | $3,332.00 | $6,664.00 | Oct 1, 1991 |
| November 1951 | $168.23 | $336.46 | $672.92 | $1,345.84 | $3,364.60 | $6,729.20 | Nov 1, 1991 |
| December 1951 | $170.65 | $341.30 | $682.60 | $1,365.20 | $3,413.00 | $6,826.00 | Dec 1, 1991 |
Note: face values issued in 1951 are $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.
A 1951 Savings Bond Is Series E, Never Series EE
A savings bond dated 1951 is a Series E bond, because Series EE began in January 1980 and every bond dated May 1941 to June 1980 is Series E. Series E cost 75% of face, paper EE half.
Treasury calls it "the 'War Bond' of 1942-45 and subsequently just the savings bond" (TreasuryDirect). See how Series EE savings bonds, sold from 1980, differ.
Why Every 1951 Bond Stopped Earning Interest in 1991
Every 1951 Series E bond reached final maturity (the date interest stops) between January 1 and December 1, 1991, 40 years after its issue month (31 CFR 316.8(b)).
- Issue: January to December 1951, at 75% of face
- Maturity group: issues May 1941 to April 1952; 1951 is its last full year
- Life: 40 years, for issues May 1941 to November 1965
- Final maturity: January 1 to December 1, 1991
No 1951 bond earns any rate today (31 CFR 316.8). Other savings bonds mature and stop earning interest on their own dates.
Why a December 1951 Bond Is Worth More Than a January 1951 Bond
A December 1951 bond is worth more than a January 1951 bond because each issue month reached its 40-year final maturity on a different date, and the value file prices the 12 months in six groups. A $100 bond gains $32.20 from January to December.
One dip exists: July to October bonds are worth one cent per $25 less than June bonds, $666.40 against $666.44 per $100. No 1951 value is shared with either neighboring year, as Table 2 shows.
Table 2: The six 1951 value groups and the months next to them, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $25 value | $100 value | Interest stopped | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1950 | 1 | $154.26 | $617.04 | Dec 1, 1990 | 1950 Series E savings bond value |
| January to April 1951 | 4 | $162.60 | $650.40 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 1991 | this page |
| May 1951 | 1 | $164.16 | $656.64 | May 1, 1991 | |
| June 1951 | 1 | $166.61 | $666.44 | Jun 1, 1991 | |
| July to October 1951 | 4 | $166.60 | $666.40 | Jul 1 to Oct 1, 1991 | |
| November 1951 | 1 | $168.23 | $672.92 | Nov 1, 1991 | |
| December 1951 | 1 | $170.65 | $682.60 | Dec 1, 1991 | |
| January to April 1952 | 4 | $170.66 | $682.64 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 1992 | 1952 Series E savings bond value |
Note: from December 1950 to April 1952 the value rises or holds from one issue month to the next, with one exception: July 1951 issues are worth one cent per $25 less than June 1951 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.
The $8.34 Step Between December 1950 and January 1951 Issues
A January 1951 bond is worth $8.34 more per $25 than a December 1950 bond, $162.60 against $154.26 in November 2026, the largest rise between two neighboring issue months in the Series E value file. It is the largest of 469 steps from May 1941 to June 1980 (our count).
On a $100 bond the step is $650.40 against $617.04, a rise of $33.36 or about 5.4%. The next largest rise is $5.81 per $25, from May to June 1949.
What a 1951 Bond Cost and How It Grew for 40 Years
A 1951 Series E bond cost 75% of its face value, $18.75 for a $25 bond, $75 for a $100 bond and $750 for a $1,000 bond, and its interest built up inside the value until 1991 (31 CFR 316.2(b), 315.30).
A $100 bond carries $575.40 to $607.60 of interest, so the value is 6.50 to 6.83 times face.
31 CFR 316.8(c)(2) raised the guaranteed minimum yield by one-half of one percent a year for bonds dated January 1, 1951 or later that were held for 11 years from the first semiannual accrual period on or after January 1, 1980. January 1951 is the first issue month inside that date line.
Which Face Values Were Issued in 1951: Six, From $25 to $1,000
Treasury's calculator prices 1951 Series E bonds in 6 face values, $25, $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1,000, and every one carries all 12 issue months. The list gives issue prices and November 2026 values, following TreasuryDirect's calculator.
- $25: $18.75 issue price; $162.60 to $170.65 in November 2026 (final values)
- $50: $37.50 issue price; $325.20 to $341.30 in November 2026 (final values)
- $100: $75 issue price; $650.40 to $682.60 in November 2026 (final values)
- $200: $150 issue price; $1,300.80 to $1,365.20 in November 2026 (final values)
- $500: $375 issue price; $3,252.00 to $3,413.00 in November 2026 (final values)
- $1,000: $750 issue price; $6,504.00 to $6,826.00 in November 2026 (final values)
1951 is the only Series E year with exactly these six face values in every month. Treasury's calculator prices the $10 bond only for issues through March 1950 and the $10,000 from May 1952.
Which Savings Bonds Were Sold in 1951: Series E, F and G
A savings bond bought in 1951 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, are paid at face today (G plus $1.25 per $100) and are cashed only by mail with FS Form 1522.
Series H, J and K began in 1952. The last Series D "baby bonds" stopped earning interest in April 1951 (TreasuryDirect). Series A, B, C and D savings bonds were the first baby bonds, 1935 to 1941.
Table 3 compares the three series Treasury sold in 1951.
Table 3: Savings bonds sold in 1951: Series E, F and G
| Attribute | Series E | Series F and G savings bonds | Series G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 75% of face | 74% of face | face value |
| Interest | added to the value | added to the value | paid by Treasury check every 6 months |
| Interest stopped | 40 years after issue (1991) | 12 years after issue (1963, our calculation) | 12 years after issue (1963, our calculation) |
| Paid today | Table 1 value ($162.60 to $170.65 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 1951 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1951 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, from $25 to $1,000.
- Find the row and column in Table 1.
TreasuryDirect's free calculator marks Series E bonds "MA" (matured). A 1951 bond carries no Social Security number (required from January 1, 1974, 31 CFR 316.2(c)(1)).
Cashing a 1951 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1951 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.
Banks may cash paper bonds but need not (FS Publication 0022, Rev. October 2022), and may not charge you (31 CFR 321.23(c)). You write your Social Security number on the bond (31 CFR 315.39(a)).
The mail route sends FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026; PDF, TreasuryDirect) and 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 (November 11, 2026). You can cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
Up to $1,000, sign and enclose an ID copy: one $100 bond ($650.40 to $682.60 in November 2026) or a January $100 plus $50 ($975.60). Above $1,000 a notary or certifying officer must certify your signature: a December $100 plus $50 ($1,023.90) or any $200 bond ($1,300.80 and up).
Tax Year 1991: When Interest on a 1951 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1951 bond that was never cashed became reportable for the tax year of its final maturity, 1991, 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, $575.40 to $607.60 per $100 bond, is federal income, 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 1951 Bonds
Five situations change what an owner or heir does with a 1951 bond: lost, inherited, inherited with unreported interest, found, or held only in Treasury records.
Table 4: Lost, found or inherited 1951 bonds
| Situation | Rule for a 1951 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 1951 bonds that is December 1997 at the latest (our calculation). Treasury's 2024 Report to Congress (March 11, 2025) says records from 1935 to September 1957 were not yet digitized as of that date. 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 1991 (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 | Treasury may share the owner's records for a bond more than 3 years past final maturity with a State that has an information-sharing agreement, only to locate owners (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. A December 1950 bond is worth $154.26 per $25 in November 2026, a January 1952 bond $170.66.
- 1949 Series E savings bond value
- 1950 Series E savings bond value
- 1952 Series E savings bond value
- 1953 Series E savings bond value
- 1965 Series E savings bond value
- $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
- $10,000 savings bond worth
1951 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $25 savings bond from 1951 worth today?
A $25 savings bond from 1951 is worth $162.60 to $170.65 in November 2026, final values; it cost $18.75.
How much is a $100 savings bond from 1951 worth?
A $100 Series E bond issued in 1951 is worth $650.40 to $682.60 in November 2026, final values. It stopped earning after 40 years, in 1991.
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1951 worth?
A $1,000 savings bond from 1951 is worth $6,504.00 to $6,826.00 in November 2026, final values; it cost $750. Cashed by mail, it needs a certified signature.
Can you still cash a 1951 Series E savings bond?
Yes: a 1951 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 1991.
Was there a $10 or $10,000 savings bond in 1951?
No: Treasury's calculator prices the $10 Series E only for issues June 1944 to March 1950 and the $10,000 only from May 1952. A 1951 bond is $25 to $1,000; see $10 Series E values by issue year.
Has the value of a 1951 bond changed since 2022?
No: a 1951 bond's value is the same in November 2026 as in 2022, because interest stopped in 1991; the files show one figure per month from May 1992 to May 2027.
Is a 1951 savings bond worth more to a collector?
Treasury pays a 1951 bond's redemption value, $162.60 to $170.65 per $25 in November 2026, and no collector premium. Treasury pays the registered owner or another person entitled (31 CFR 315.39(b)).
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.