A 1976 Series E savings bond is worth $134.76 to $138.04 per $25 of face value (the amount printed on the bond) in November 2026, by issue month. A $100 bond is worth $539.04 to $552.16, and a $10,000 bond $53,904.00 to $55,216.00.
Interest stopped on the first day of each issue month in 2006, 30 years after issue, so these values are final. December issues are worth the most, January to April the least. Bicentennial-design bonds are worth the same.
Values for November 2026 (final values)
How Much Is a 1976 Series E Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1976 Series E bond is worth $134.76 (a $25 bond issued January to April) to $55,216.00 (a $10,000 bond issued in December) in November 2026.
The rules of Series E savings bonds for 1941 to 1980 apply to every row. Each value is the redemption value, what Treasury pays when you cash the bond, and each row carries its stop date.
Table 1: What a 1976 Series E savings bond, Bicentennial design included, is worth in November 2026, by issue month and face value
| Issue month | $25 | $50 | $75 | $100 | $200 | $500 | $1,000 | $10,000 | Interest stopped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1976 | $134.76 | $269.52 | $404.28 | $539.04 | $1,078.08 | $2,695.20 | $5,390.40 | $53,904.00 | Jan 1, 2006 |
| February 1976 | $134.76 | $269.52 | $404.28 | $539.04 | $1,078.08 | $2,695.20 | $5,390.40 | $53,904.00 | Feb 1, 2006 |
| March 1976 | $134.76 | $269.52 | $404.28 | $539.04 | $1,078.08 | $2,695.20 | $5,390.40 | $53,904.00 | Mar 1, 2006 |
| April 1976 | $134.76 | $269.52 | $404.28 | $539.04 | $1,078.08 | $2,695.20 | $5,390.40 | $53,904.00 | Apr 1, 2006 |
| May 1976 | $136.04 | $272.08 | $408.12 | $544.16 | $1,088.32 | $2,720.80 | $5,441.60 | $54,416.00 | May 1, 2006 |
| June 1976 | $136.34 | $272.68 | $409.02 | $545.36 | $1,090.72 | $2,726.80 | $5,453.60 | $54,536.00 | Jun 1, 2006 |
| July 1976 | $136.32 | $272.64 | $408.96 | $545.28 | $1,090.56 | $2,726.40 | $5,452.80 | $54,528.00 | Jul 1, 2006 |
| August 1976 | $136.32 | $272.64 | $408.96 | $545.28 | $1,090.56 | $2,726.40 | $5,452.80 | $54,528.00 | Aug 1, 2006 |
| September 1976 | $136.32 | $272.64 | $408.96 | $545.28 | $1,090.56 | $2,726.40 | $5,452.80 | $54,528.00 | Sep 1, 2006 |
| October 1976 | $136.32 | $272.64 | $408.96 | $545.28 | $1,090.56 | $2,726.40 | $5,452.80 | $54,528.00 | Oct 1, 2006 |
| November 1976 | $137.65 | $275.30 | $412.95 | $550.60 | $1,101.20 | $2,753.00 | $5,506.00 | $55,060.00 | Nov 1, 2006 |
| December 1976 | $138.04 | $276.08 | $414.12 | $552.16 | $1,104.32 | $2,760.80 | $5,521.60 | $55,216.00 | Dec 1, 2006 |
Note: face values issued in every month of 1976 are $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $10,000 (TreasuryDirect calculator windows). Prices are 75% of face (31 CFR 316.2(b)). Final maturity is 30 years for all 12 months, one group under 31 CFR 316.8(b), December 1973 to June 1980 issues. Every 1976 Series E bond stopped earning interest in 2006, and these values are final.
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 1976 Savings Bond Is Series E, Never Series EE
A savings bond dated 1976 is a Series E bond, never Series EE, because Series EE began in January 1980 and every Series E bond is dated May 1941 to June 1980 (31 CFR 316.1).
Series E sold at 75% of face and lived 30 years, so EE charts or a "double in 20 years" rule mislead. See how Series EE savings bonds, sold from 1980, differ.
When 1976 Bonds Stopped Earning Interest: January to December 2006
Every 1976 Series E bond reached final maturity (the date interest stops) on the 1st of its issue month in 2006, 30 years after issue, and has earned no interest since (31 CFR 316.8(b)).
- 1976 issues: January 1 to December 1, 2006
- Group: December 1973 to June 1980 issues; 1976 is months 26 to 37 of 79
- Rule: 40 years for May 1941 to November 1965 issues, 30 years after
- Timeline: TreasuryDirect's history timeline dates the 30-year schedule to 1989
No other year's Series E bonds stopped in 2006: the last 40-year bonds stopped in November 2005. Other savings bonds mature and stop earning interest on other dates.
1976 Bicentennial Savings Bonds Are Worth the Same as Other 1976 E Bonds
A Bicentennial-design Series E bond from 1976 is worth exactly what any 1976 Series E bond of the same issue month and face value is worth: $134.76 to $138.04 per $25 in November 2026.
TreasuryDirect's timeline says President Ford bought the first Bicentennial bond from Treasury Secretary Simon on May 1, 1975, and that "Bicentennial bonds were issued until December 1976".
The calculator has no design input. A bond showing July 4, 1976 is a July 1976 issue, because the issue date is the 1st of a month (31 CFR 316.2(d)): $136.32 per $25.
Why 1976 Bonds Rank Among the Highest Values of the Last Series E Group
The 12 issue months of 1976 and January to October 1977 are the 22 highest-valued months of the 79 that share the last Series E final-maturity group, December 1973 to June 1980. The group's top is June 1977 at $139.70 per $25. Its bottom is May 1978 at $106.67.
The lowest 1976 month, $134.76, also beats the lowest month of every other year from 1966 to 1980 except 1970 ($137.00). The files do not say why.
Table 2: The six 1976 value groups and the months next to them, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $25 value | $100 value | Interest stopped | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1975 | 1 | $134.75 | $539.00 | Dec 1, 2005 | 1975 Series E savings bond value |
| January to April 1976 | 4 | $134.76 | $539.04 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 2006 | |
| May 1976 | 1 | $136.04 | $544.16 | May 1, 2006 | |
| June 1976 | 1 | $136.34 | $545.36 | Jun 1, 2006 | |
| July to October 1976 | 4 | $136.32 | $545.28 | Jul 1 to Oct 1, 2006 | |
| November 1976 | 1 | $137.65 | $550.60 | Nov 1, 2006 | |
| December 1976 | 1 | $138.04 | $552.16 | Dec 1, 2006 | |
| January to April 1977 | 4 | $138.04 | $552.16 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 2007 | 1977 Series E savings bond value |
Note: the 12 months of 1976 and January to October 1977 are the 22 highest-valued of the 79 issue months from December 1973 to June 1980, which share one final-maturity group under 31 CFR 316.8(b). July 1976 is the only 1976 month worth less than the month before.
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.
How the Value Moves Through 1976, Month by Month
1976 has six value groups, and the value rises in four steps and falls once, in July, by $0.02 per $25. Per $25: $134.76 January to April, $136.04 May, $136.34 June, $136.32 July to October, $137.65 November, $138.04 December.
The largest steps are May ($1.28) and November ($1.33), and the range is $3.28 per $25 ($13.12 per $100). December 1975 is one cent lower ($134.75); December 1976 equals January to April 1977.
What a 1976 Bond Cost and How Much Interest It Earned
A 1976 Series E bond cost 75% of its face value, $18.75 for a $25 bond, $56.25 for a $75 bond and $75 for a $100 bond, and its value grew until 2006 (31 CFR 316.2(b)). Treasury pays the interest only when you cash the bond (31 CFR 315.30).
A $100 bond carries $464.04 to $477.16 of interest, so a 1976 bond is worth 7.19 to 7.36 times its price.
Which Face Values Were Issued in 1976: Eight, From $25 to $10,000
Treasury's calculator prices 1976 Series E bonds in 8 face values, all valid for every 1976 issue month: $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $10,000.
- $25: $18.75 ($134.76 to $138.04)
- $50: $37.50 ($269.52 to $276.08)
- $75: $56.25 ($404.28 to $414.12)
- $100: $75 ($539.04 to $552.16)
- $200: $150 ($1,078.08 to $1,104.32)
- $500: $375 ($2,695.20 to $2,760.80)
- $1,000: $750 ($5,390.40 to $5,521.60)
- $10,000: $7,500 ($53,904.00 to $55,216.00)
Treasury's calculator lists no $5,000 Series E, so a $5,000 bond dated 1976 is Series H. The $10 was priced only through March 1950.
Which Savings Bonds Were Sold in 1976: Series E, Series H and Two Retirement Bonds
A savings bond bought in 1976 is one of 4 kinds: a Series E bond, a Series H bond, a U.S. Retirement Plan Bond or a U.S. Individual Retirement Bond. Individual Retirement Bonds went on sale January 1, 1975.
Series H paid interest every six months and stopped after 30 years; banks may not pay it. Both retirement bonds may still earn interest and are cashed by mail. Savings Notes ended October 31, 1970.
Table 3: Savings bonds sold in 1976
| Kind | Price | Face values | Interest | Stopped earning | Paid today | Where to cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series E | 75% of face | $25 to $10,000 (Table 1) | added to the value | 2006 (30 years) | Table 1 value | a financial institution that cashes savings bonds, or FS Form 1522 by mail |
| Series H savings bonds | face value | $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 | paid every six months | 30 years after issue (1976 issues: 2006, our calculation) | face value | FS Form 1522 by mail (banks may not pay Series H, 31 CFR 321.7(a)) |
| Retirement Plan Bonds | face value | $50, $100, $500, $1,000 | not stated in our sources | by the 60th month after the registered owner's death (31 CFR 341.1(b)); some may still earn | not in our data | FS Form 1522 by mail |
| Individual Retirement Bonds | face value | $50, $75, $100, $500 | not stated in our sources | when the owner reaches 70 1/2, or 5 years after death, no later (31 CFR 346.1(b)); 10% penalty before 59 1/2 unless rollover or disability | not in our data | FS Form 1522 by mail |
Sources: 31 CFR 316.2(b), 316.8(b); 31 CFR 332.8; 31 CFR 341; 31 CFR 346; 31 CFR 321.7(a); TreasuryDirect historical and retired bonds page (as of November 11, 2026).
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1976 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1976 Series E bond by its issue month and face value; for 1976 the month moves the value only between $134.76 (January to April) and $138.04 (December) per $25. Use our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files.
- Check that the bond says Series E.
- Read the issue date on a paper savings bond, upper right (31 CFR 316.2(c)(2)).
- Ignore the validation date, lower right.
- Read the face value.
- Find the row and column in Table 1.
TreasuryDirect's free calculator marks matured E bonds "MA". Bonds issued from January 1, 1974 had to carry the owner's Social Security number (31 CFR 316.2(c)(1); the timeline says October 1, 1973). Name, number and design do not change the value.
Cashing a 1976 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1976 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. Read how to cash savings bonds for the 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)). A beneficiary brings a certified death certificate.
FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026; PDF, TreasuryDirect) goes 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 if not (November 11, 2026); see how to cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
At $1,000 or less, you sign and enclose an ID copy: a January $100 with a $75 ($943.32), or a December $100 with a December $75 ($966.28). Above $1,000 (any $200 bond, two $100 bonds ($1,078.08 or more), $1,078.08 to $1,104.32), a notary or certifying officer certifies your signature.
Tax Year 2006: When Interest on a 1976 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1976 bond that was never cashed became reportable for tax year 2006, the year of its final maturity, unless reported earlier (31 CFR 316.9; 26 U.S.C. 454; IRS Publication 550).
The interest is $464.04 to $477.16 per $100 bond, federal only (31 CFR 316.9(a)). Ask a tax professional about a missed year; see federal tax on savings bond interest.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1976 Bonds
Six situations change what an owner or heir does with a 1976 bond: lost, inherited, inherited with unreported interest, found, searched for online, or still in Treasury's records only.
Table 4: Lost, found or inherited 1976 bonds
| Situation | Rule for a 1976 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 1976 bonds that is 2012 at the latest (our calculation). Treasury's 2024 Report to Congress (March 11, 2025) said records of 1974 to 1993 issues were digitized in phases completed May 2021 and February 2022. | FS Form 1048 claim for lost 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). | inherited 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 by issue month. Check the owner, co-owner and beneficiary before cashing. | found old savings bonds |
| Searched for online | Treasury Hunt's December 2019 relaunch searched matured bonds issued after 1973 by Social Security number (2024 Report to Congress). It has been unavailable since September 30, 2025 (TreasuryDirect), and no online replacement exists. | Treasury Hunt is closed |
| Held in Treasury records, not in hand | Treasury may share the owner's records of a bond more than 3 years past final maturity with a State that has an information-sharing agreement, only to locate the owner (31 U.S.C. 3105(f); 31 CFR 323.11); 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 face value are listed below.
- 1966 Series E savings bond value (the first full year of the 30-year life)
- 1974 Series E savings bond value
- 1975 Series E savings bond value (Bicentennial design from May 1975)
- 1977 Series E savings bond value (the group's highest month, June 1977)
- 1978 Series E savings bond value
- $50 savings bond worth
- $75 savings bond worth
- $100 savings bond worth after 30 years
- $200 savings bond worth
- $500 savings bond worth
- $5,000 savings bond worth (Series H in 1976)
- $10,000 savings bond worth
1976 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $25 savings bond from 1976 worth today?
A $25 savings bond from 1976 is worth $134.76 to $138.04 in November 2026, by issue month. It cost $18.75. See the $25 savings bond worth, every series.
How much would a $50 savings bond from 1976 be worth today?
A $50 savings bond from 1976 is worth $269.52 (January to April) to $276.08 (December) in November 2026. It cost $37.50, and a 1976 $50 bond is Series E.
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1976 worth after 30 years?
A $1,000 Series E bond from 1976 is worth $5,390.40 (January to April) to $5,521.60 (December) in November 2026. It earned for 30 years, not 20. See the $1,000 savings bond worth for every series.
How much is a $10,000 savings bond from 1976 worth?
A $10,000 Series E bond from 1976 is worth $53,904.00 (January to April) to $55,216.00 (December) in November 2026. It cost $7,500; by mail it needs a certified signature.
Are 1976 savings bonds still worth anything, or do they expire?
Yes: a 1976 savings bond is worth its final 30-year value, $134.76 to $138.04 per $25 in November 2026, and it does not expire (31 CFR 315.35(c); EO 13968, 85 FR 83745). December issues turn 50 on December 1, 2026.
Is a 1976 Bicentennial bond worth more to a collector?
Treasury pays a 1976 Bicentennial bond its redemption value, $134.76 to $138.04 per $25 in November 2026, and no premium for the design. Bonds are not transferable (31 CFR 315.15), and Treasury pays only the registered owner or a person entitled (31 CFR 315.39(b)).
Has the value of a 1976 bond changed since 2006?
No: a 1976 bond's value has not changed since its final maturity in 2006. The files show one figure per 1976 month through 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.