A 1956 Series E savings bond is worth $186.79 to $199.56 per $25 of face value (the amount printed on the bond) in November 2026, by issue month. A $100 bond is worth $747.16 to $798.24, and a $10,000 bond $74,716.00 to $79,824.00. Each is worth 9.96 to 10.64 times its 75% price.
Every 1956 bond stopped earning interest in 1996, so these values are final. Treasury's calculator lists 7 face values for every 1956 issue month. The letter on the bond is E, never EE.
Values for November 2026 (final values)
How Much Is a 1956 Series E Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1956 Series E bond is worth $186.79 (a $25 bond from January or February) to $79,824.00 (a $10,000 bond from December) in November 2026.
See Series E savings bonds, 1941 to 1980, for the rules. Table 1 lists all 84 values: 7 face values in each of the 12 issue months, with the date each row's interest stopped.
Table 1: What a 1956 Series E savings bond is worth in November 2026, by issue month and face value
| Issue month | $25 | $50 | $100 | $200 | $500 | $1,000 | $10,000 | Interest stopped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1956 | $186.79 | $373.58 | $747.16 | $1,494.32 | $3,735.80 | $7,471.60 | $74,716.00 | Jan 1, 1996 |
| February 1956 | $186.79 | $373.58 | $747.16 | $1,494.32 | $3,735.80 | $7,471.60 | $74,716.00 | Feb 1, 1996 |
| March 1956 | $188.59 | $377.18 | $754.36 | $1,508.72 | $3,771.80 | $7,543.60 | $75,436.00 | Mar 1, 1996 |
| April 1956 | $193.83 | $387.66 | $775.32 | $1,550.64 | $3,876.60 | $7,753.20 | $77,532.00 | Apr 1, 1996 |
| May 1956 | $193.83 | $387.66 | $775.32 | $1,550.64 | $3,876.60 | $7,753.20 | $77,532.00 | May 1, 1996 |
| June 1956 | $194.29 | $388.58 | $777.16 | $1,554.32 | $3,885.80 | $7,771.60 | $77,716.00 | Jun 1, 1996 |
| July 1956 | $194.29 | $388.58 | $777.16 | $1,554.32 | $3,885.80 | $7,771.60 | $77,716.00 | Jul 1, 1996 |
| August 1956 | $194.29 | $388.58 | $777.16 | $1,554.32 | $3,885.80 | $7,771.60 | $77,716.00 | Aug 1, 1996 |
| September 1956 | $196.19 | $392.38 | $784.76 | $1,569.52 | $3,923.80 | $7,847.60 | $78,476.00 | Sep 1, 1996 |
| October 1956 | $198.48 | $396.96 | $793.92 | $1,587.84 | $3,969.60 | $7,939.20 | $79,392.00 | Oct 1, 1996 |
| November 1956 | $198.47 | $396.94 | $793.88 | $1,587.76 | $3,969.40 | $7,938.80 | $79,388.00 | Nov 1, 1996 |
| December 1956 | $199.56 | $399.12 | $798.24 | $1,596.48 | $3,991.20 | $7,982.40 | $79,824.00 | Dec 1, 1996 |
Note: face values issued in 1956 are $25, $50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $10,000, in every 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 1956 Savings Bond Is Series E, Never Series EE
A savings bond dated 1956 is a Series E bond, because Series EE began in January 1980 and every bond dated May 1941 to June 1980 is Series E. E cost 75% of face and paper EE half, so an EE chart gives a wrong answer.
Check the letter on your bond, and see how Series EE savings bonds, sold from 1980, differ.
Why Every 1956 Bond Stopped Earning Interest in 1996
Every 1956 Series E bond reached final maturity (the date interest stops) between January 1 and December 1, 1996, 40 years after its issue month (31 CFR 316.8(b)). Four facts apply.
- Issue: January to December 1956, at 75% of face
- Maturity group: issues May 1952 to January 1957, final maturity May 1992 to January 1997
- Life: 40 years, the rule for issues May 1941 to November 1965
- Final maturity: January 1 to December 1, 1996, the 1st of the issue month
The value has not changed since each bond reached final maturity, because a bond earns no interest after that date. See when savings bonds mature and stop earning interest, series by series, for each rule.
Why a 1956 Bond and a 1966 Bond Both Stopped in 1996
A 1966 Series E bond also stopped earning in 1996, because Series E bonds issued from December 1965 had a 30-year life instead of 40 (31 CFR 316.8(b)).
A 1966 $100 bond is worth $487.76 to $512.52 in November 2026, a 1956 $100 bond $747.16 to $798.24. Match the issue year printed on the bond, not the year interest stopped.
Why a December 1956 Bond Is Worth More Than a January 1956 Bond
A December 1956 bond is worth more than a January 1956 bond because each issue month reached final maturity at its own date, and the value file prices the 12 months in eight groups.
A $100 bond gains $51.08 from January to December. The largest step is March to April 1956, $5.24 per $25 ($20.96 per $100).
December 1955 shares the January and February 1956 value, and January 1957 shares the December 1956 value. Table 2 lists the groups.
Table 2: The eight 1956 value groups and the months next to them, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $25 value | $100 value | Change per $100 | Interest stopped | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1955 | 1 | $186.79 | $747.16 | Dec 1, 1995 | 1955 Series E savings bond value | |
| January to February 1956 | 2 | $186.79 | $747.16 | none | Jan 1 to Feb 1, 1996 | this page |
| March 1956 | 1 | $188.59 | $754.36 | +$7.20 | Mar 1, 1996 | |
| April to May 1956 | 2 | $193.83 | $775.32 | +$20.96 | Apr 1 to May 1, 1996 | |
| June to August 1956 | 3 | $194.29 | $777.16 | +$1.84 | Jun 1 to Aug 1, 1996 | |
| September 1956 | 1 | $196.19 | $784.76 | +$7.60 | Sep 1, 1996 | |
| October 1956 | 1 | $198.48 | $793.92 | +$9.16 | Oct 1, 1996 | |
| November 1956 | 1 | $198.47 | $793.88 | minus $0.04 | Nov 1, 1996 | |
| December 1956 | 1 | $199.56 | $798.24 | +$4.36 | Dec 1, 1996 | |
| January 1957 | 1 | $199.56 | $798.24 | none | Jan 1, 1997 | 1957 Series E savings bond value |
| February 1957 | 1 | $199.90 | $799.60 | +$1.36 | Feb 1, 1997 |
Note: values rise or hold from one issue month to the next across 1956, except November 1956, which is one cent per $25 below October 1956.
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 1956 Bond Cost, and the First Month Worth 10 Times Its Price
A 1956 Series E bond cost 75% of face: $18.75 for a $25 bond, $75 for a $100 bond and $7,500 for a $10,000 bond (31 CFR 316.2(b)). Interest is paid at cashing (31 CFR 315.30), so a $100 bond carries $672.16 to $723.24 of interest.
In the value file, March 1956 is the first Series E issue month worth more than 10 times its price. It is worth $188.59 per $25 against $18.75. No earlier issue month (May 1941 to February 1956) reaches that multiple; every later 1956 month does.
Why a November 1956 Bond Is Worth One Cent Less Than October
In Treasury's value file, a November 1956 bond is worth one cent less per $25 than an October 1956 bond. The $25 values are $198.47 against $198.48.
For $100 the figures are $793.88 against $793.92, and for $10,000 they are $79,388.00 against $79,392.00. November is the only month in 1956 worth less than the month before.
Which Face Values Were Issued in 1956: Seven, From $25 to $10,000
Treasury's calculator prices 1956 Series E bonds in 7 face values, all valid for every 1956 issue month: $25, $50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $10,000. Each follows with its issue price and value range.
- $25: $18.75 ($186.79 to $199.56)
- $50: $37.50 ($373.58 to $399.12)
- $100: $75 ($747.16 to $798.24)
- $200: $150 ($1,494.32 to $1,596.48)
- $500: $375 ($3,735.80 to $3,991.20)
- $1,000: $750 ($7,471.60 to $7,982.40)
- $10,000: $7,500 ($74,716.00 to $79,824.00)
The $10,000 bond is valid from May 1952 (TreasuryDirect calculator). The $10 bond ended in March 1950 and the $75 began in May 1964, so neither has a 1956 date. Treasury's calculator and 31 CFR 316.2(b) list no $5,000 Series E.
Which Savings Bonds Were Sold in 1956: Series E, H, J and K
A savings bond bought in 1956 is one of 4 series. They are Series E (75% of face), Series H (face value, interest paid every six months), Series J (72% of face) and Series K (face value, interest paid by check).
Series F and G ended in April 1952, so no 1956 bond is F or G.
Series J and K sales ended in April 1957, so 1956 is the last full calendar year in which all four were sold (our calculation). Table 3 compares the four series.
Table 3: Savings bonds sold in 1956: Series E, H, J and K
| Attribute | Series E | Series H savings bonds | Series J savings bonds | Series K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 75% of face | face value | 72% of face | face value |
| Face values | $25 to $10,000 (Table 1) | $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 | $25, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, $100,000 | $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, $100,000 |
| Interest | added to the value | paid every six months | added to the value | paid by Treasury check every six months |
| Interest stopped | 40 years after issue (1996) | 29 years 8 months after issue (September 1985 to August 1986, our calculation) | 12 years after issue (1968, our calculation) | 12 years after issue (1968, our calculation) |
| Sales ended | June 1980 | December 1979 | April 1957 | April 1957 |
| Paid today | Table 1 value | face value | face value | face plus $6.90 per $500 |
| 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 | FS Form 1522 by mail |
Sources: 31 CFR 316.1; 31 CFR 316.2(b); 31 CFR 332.8; 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 1956 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1956 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. The redemption value, the amount paid at cashing, is the Table 1 figure.
- 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, Treasury's savings bond website, has a free calculator that marks Series E bonds "MA" (matured). A 1956 bond carries no Social Security number; one is required from January 1, 1974 (31 CFR 316.2(c)(1)).
Cashing a 1956 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1956 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. The forms are free. Read how to cash savings bonds by each route.
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)).
You cash by mail with 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 (November 11, 2026).
A request of $1,000 or less needs your signature and a copy of your ID, as for one December 1956 $100 bond ($798.24) or five December $25 bonds ($997.80).
Above $1,000 a notary or certifying officer must certify your signature, as for a January $200 bond ($1,494.32) or any single 1956 bond of $200 or more.
Tax Year 1996: When Interest on a 1956 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1956 bond that was never cashed became reportable for tax year 1996, the year of its final maturity. The owner reported it that year unless it was reported earlier (31 CFR 316.9; 26 U.S.C. 454; IRS Publication 550).
That interest is $672.16 to $723.24 per $100 bond, taxable for federal income tax and exempt from state and local income tax (31 CFR 316.9(a); 31 U.S.C. 3124). Ask a tax professional about a missed year, and see federal tax on savings bond interest.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1956 Bonds
Five situations change what an owner or heir does with a 1956 bond: lost, inherited, inherited with unreported interest, found, or held in Treasury records only.
Table 4: Lost, found or inherited 1956 bonds
| Situation | Rule for a 1956 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 1956 bonds that is December 2002 at the latest (our calculation). Treasury's 2024 Report to Congress (March 11, 2025) said records from 1935 to September 1957 were not digitized as of March 11, 2025. 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, 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 that year (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 | 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
Neighboring issue years and every Series E face value are listed below.
- 1954 Series E savings bond value
- 1955 Series E savings bond value
- 1957 Series E savings bond value
- 1958 Series E savings bond value
- 1965 Series E savings bond value (the year split between 40 and 30 years)
- 1966 Series E savings bond value (30-year bonds that also stopped earning in 1996)
- $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
- Series E bonds bought with savings stamps
1956 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $25 savings bond from 1956 worth today?
A $25 savings bond from 1956 is worth $186.79 to $199.56 in November 2026, by issue month. It cost $18.75.
How much is a $100 savings bond from 1956 worth?
A $100 Series E bond issued in 1956 is worth $747.16 to $798.24 in November 2026. It is about 70 years old and stopped earning after 40 years, in 1996.
How much is a $10,000 savings bond from 1956 worth?
A $10,000 Series E bond issued in 1956 is worth $74,716.00 to $79,824.00 in November 2026. It cost $7,500, and by mail it needs a certified signature.
Do savings bonds from 1956 expire?
No: a 1956 savings bond does not expire and can be cashed at any time (31 CFR 315.35(c); EO 13968, 85 FR 83745).
Was there a $5,000 Series E bond in 1956?
No: Treasury lists no $5,000 Series E bond. A 1956 bond with a $5,000 face is Series H, J or K, paid at face (K adds $6.90 per $500) by mail with FS Form 1522.
Has the value of a 1956 bond changed since 2022?
No: a 1956 bond's value is the same in November 2026 as in 2022, because interest stopped in 1996. The value files show one figure per 1956 month through May 2027.
Is a 1956 savings bond worth more to a collector?
Treasury pays a 1956 bond's redemption value, $186.79 to $199.56 per $25 in November 2026, and no collector premium. Treasury pays only the registered owner or a person entitled, and bonds are not transferable (31 CFR 315.39(b), 315.15).
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.