A 1978 Series E savings bond is worth $106.67 to $128.45 per $25 of face value (the amount printed on the bond) in November 2026, by issue month. That is $426.68 to $513.80 for a $100 bond and $42,668.00 to $51,380.00 for a $10,000 bond.
Every 1978 bond stopped earning between January 1 and December 1, 2008, so the values are final. Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files give the value per $25 of face, and Treasury's calculator lists 8 face values for every 1978 month.
Values for November 2026 (final values)
How Much Is a 1978 Series E Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1978 Series E bond is worth $106.67 (a $25 bond issued in May) to $51,380.00 (a $10,000 bond issued in January or February) in November 2026, and these values are final. See Series E savings bonds for the rules of 1941 to 1980 issues. Table 1 lists all 12 issue months.
Table 1: What a 1978 Series E savings bond 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 1978 | $128.45 | $256.90 | $385.35 | $513.80 | $1,027.60 | $2,569.00 | $5,138.00 | $51,380.00 | Jan 1, 2008 |
| February 1978 | $128.45 | $256.90 | $385.35 | $513.80 | $1,027.60 | $2,569.00 | $5,138.00 | $51,380.00 | Feb 1, 2008 |
| March 1978 onward: lower values | |||||||||
| March 1978 | $108.54 | $217.08 | $325.62 | $434.16 | $868.32 | $2,170.80 | $4,341.60 | $43,416.00 | Mar 1, 2008 |
| April 1978 | $108.54 | $217.08 | $325.62 | $434.16 | $868.32 | $2,170.80 | $4,341.60 | $43,416.00 | Apr 1, 2008 |
| May 1978 | $106.67 | $213.34 | $320.01 | $426.68 | $853.36 | $2,133.40 | $4,266.80 | $42,668.00 | May 1, 2008 |
| June 1978 | $106.94 | $213.88 | $320.82 | $427.76 | $855.52 | $2,138.80 | $4,277.60 | $42,776.00 | Jun 1, 2008 |
| July 1978 | $106.97 | $213.94 | $320.91 | $427.88 | $855.76 | $2,139.40 | $4,278.80 | $42,788.00 | Jul 1, 2008 |
| August 1978 | $106.97 | $213.94 | $320.91 | $427.88 | $855.76 | $2,139.40 | $4,278.80 | $42,788.00 | Aug 1, 2008 |
| September 1978 | $106.97 | $213.94 | $320.91 | $427.88 | $855.76 | $2,139.40 | $4,278.80 | $42,788.00 | Sep 1, 2008 |
| October 1978 | $106.97 | $213.94 | $320.91 | $427.88 | $855.76 | $2,139.40 | $4,278.80 | $42,788.00 | Oct 1, 2008 |
| November 1978 | $107.98 | $215.96 | $323.94 | $431.92 | $863.84 | $2,159.60 | $4,319.20 | $43,192.00 | Nov 1, 2008 |
| December 1978 | $108.27 | $216.54 | $324.81 | $433.08 | $866.16 | $2,165.40 | $4,330.80 | $43,308.00 | Dec 1, 2008 |
Note: eight face values were issued in every 1978 month (TreasuryDirect calculator). Price: 75% of face (31 CFR 316.2(b)). Final maturity: 31 CFR 316.8(b). Every 1978 bond stopped earning interest in 2008, 30 years after its issue month, so 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 1978 Savings Bond Is Series E, Never Series EE
A savings bond dated 1978 is never Series EE, because Series EE began in January 1980; a 1978 bond marked E is a Series E bond, a series issued May 1941 to June 1980 (31 CFR 316.1). See how Series EE savings bonds, sold from 1980, differ.
When 1978 Bonds Stopped Earning Interest: January to December 2008
Every 1978 Series E bond reached final maturity (the date interest stops) on the 1st of its issue month in 2008, 30 years after issue, and has earned no interest since (31 CFR 316.8(b)). January 1978 issues stopped on January 1, 2008, and December 1978 issues on December 1, 2008.
All 12 months sit in the December 1973 to June 1980 group, the last Series E group. 1978 is the only issue year whose E bonds stopped in 2008. See how savings bonds mature and stop earning interest.
Why a March 1978 Bond Is Worth $79.64 Less Than a February 1978 Bond
A February 1978 Series E bond is worth $513.80 per $100 in November 2026 and a March 1978 bond $434.16, a gap of $79.64. Both share one final-maturity group (31 CFR 316.8(b)), so the step is not a group edge.
The step is the largest of the 174 one-month steps between 30-year E issue months and the 4th largest of all 469 in the file. Our sources record the step, not its cause.
Table 2: The seven 1978 value groups and the months next to them, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $25 value | $100 value | Step per $25 | Interest stopped | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1977 | 1 | $128.45 | $513.80 | Dec 1, 2007 | 1977 Series E savings bond value | |
| January to February 1978 | 2 | $128.45 | $513.80 | none | Jan 1, Feb 1, 2008 | this page |
| March to April 1978 | 2 | $108.54 | $434.16 | down $19.91 | Mar 1, Apr 1, 2008 | |
| May 1978 | 1 | $106.67 | $426.68 | down $1.87 | May 1, 2008 | |
| June 1978 | 1 | $106.94 | $427.76 | up $0.27 | Jun 1, 2008 | |
| July to October 1978 | 4 | $106.97 | $427.88 | up $0.03 | Jul 1 to Oct 1, 2008 | |
| November 1978 | 1 | $107.98 | $431.92 | up $1.01 | Nov 1, 2008 | |
| December 1978 | 1 | $108.27 | $433.08 | up $0.29 | Dec 1, 2008 | |
| January 1979 | 1 | $108.28 | $433.12 | up $0.01 | Jan 1, 2009 | 1979 Series E savings bond value |
Note: all rows are 30-year bonds in the same 31 CFR 316.8(b) group (December 1973 to June 1980 issues). The February to March 1978 drop ($19.91 per $25) is the largest between consecutive issue months among 30-year Series E bonds (December 1965 to June 1980).
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.
May 1978: the Lowest Value of Any 30-Year Series E Bond
1978 has seven value groups, and after the May drop the value only rises or holds to December. Table 2 shows them per $25, from $128.45 (January, February) to $106.67 (May) and $108.27 (December).
May 1978 is the lowest of all 30-year E issue months, and the lowest of any issue month for a $75 ($320.01), $200 ($853.36) or $10,000 ($42,668.00) bond. The year spans $21.78 per $25, the widest of any issue year from 1966 to 1980.
What a 1978 Bond Cost and How Much Interest It Earned
A 1978 Series E bond cost 75% of face value, $18.75 for a $25 bond, and grew in value until 2008 (31 CFR 316.2(b)). A $100 bond carries $351.68 (May) to $438.80 (January, February) of interest.
Which Face Values Were Issued in 1978: Eight, From $25 to $10,000
Treasury's calculator prices 1978 Series E bonds in 8 face values, all valid for every issue month: $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $10,000. Issue price and November 2026 value range follow.
- $25: $18.75; $106.67 to $128.45
- $50: $37.50; $213.34 to $256.90
- $75: $56.25; $320.01 to $385.35
- $100: $75; $426.68 to $513.80
- $200: $150; $853.36 to $1,027.60
- $500: $375; $2,133.40 to $2,569.00
- $1,000: $750; $4,266.80 to $5,138.00
- $10,000: $7,500; $42,668.00 to $51,380.00
Neither 31 CFR 316.2(b) nor Treasury's calculator lists a $5,000 or $10 Series E; a $5,000 bond dated 1978 is a Series H bond, with its own rules.
Which Savings Bonds Were Sold in 1978: Series E, Series H and Two Retirement Bonds
A savings product bought in 1978 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. Series H cost face value and paid interest every six months for 30 years (31 CFR 332.8). Banks may not pay it (31 CFR 321.7(a)).
The two retirement bonds cost face value and are cashed by mail with FS Form 1522. Savings Notes ended October 31, 1970, and Series EE and HH began in 1980, so none carries a 1978 date.
Table 3: Savings products sold in 1978
| Kind | Price | Face values | Stopped earning | Paid today | Where to cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series E | 75% of face | $25 to $10,000 (Table 1) | 2008 (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 | 30 years after issue (1978 issues: 2008, our calculation); interest was paid every six months | 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 | at or before 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 (sold from January 1, 1975) | face value | $50, $75, $100, $500 | the month the owner reaches 70 1/2, or 5 years after the owner's death but no later than the month the owner would have reached 70 1/2 (31 CFR 346.1(b)) | not in our data | FS Form 1522 by mail |
Sources: 31 CFR 316.2(b), 316.8(b), 332.8, 341.1(b), 346.1(b), 321.7(a); TreasuryDirect historical and retired bonds page (as of November 11, 2026).
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1978 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1978 bond by issue month and face 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)).
- 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 matured Series E bonds "MA". A 1978 bond carries the owner's Social Security number, which 31 CFR 316.2(c)(1) requires on E bonds issued from January 1, 1974.
Cashing a 1978 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1978 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 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)). If your Social Security number is not already on the bond, you write it on the face when you cash it (31 CFR 315.39(a)).
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 or longer if not (TreasuryDirect, November 11, 2026). See how to cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
A request of $1,000 or less needs your signature and a copy of your ID, for example one March to December 1978 $200 bond ($853.36 to $868.32). Above $1,000 a notary or certifying officer must certify your signature, for example one January 1978 $200 bond ($1,027.60).
Tax Year 2008: When Interest on a 1978 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1978 bond that was never cashed became reportable for tax year 2008, the year of its final maturity, unless reported earlier (31 CFR 316.9; IRS Publication 550). The interest is $351.68 to $438.80 per $100 bond.
It is subject to federal income tax and exempt from state and local income tax (31 U.S.C. 3124(a); 31 CFR 316.9(a)). Ask a tax professional about a missed year; see the federal tax on savings bond interest rules.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1978 Bonds
Six situations change what an owner or heir does with a 1978 bond: lost, inherited, inherited with unreported interest, found, searched for online, or held only in Treasury records. Table 4 gives the rule for each.
Table 4: Lost, found or inherited 1978 bonds
| Situation | Rule for a 1978 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 1978 bonds that is 2014 at the latest (our calculation). Treasury's 2024 Report to Congress (March 11, 2025) says records for 1974 to 1993 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 in 2008, interest earned before death is income in respect of a decedent unless reported on the owner's final return (IRS Publication 550). For a later death, the interest was reportable for 2008; ask a tax professional. | taxes on inherited savings bonds |
| Found among papers | The value comes from Table 1. 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, a scope that covered 1978 issues. The August 2023 upgrade covered all unredeemed bonds since 1957. Unavailable since September 30, 2025 (TreasuryDirect), with no online replacement. | Treasury Hunt is closed |
| Held in Treasury records, not in hand | For a bond more than 3 years past final maturity, Treasury may share the owner's name and address 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
Other issue years and face values appear below, from 1965 to 1980 and from $25 to $10,000. The links lead to 7 other issue years and 7 face values.
- 1965 Series E savings bond value
- 1966 Series E savings bond value
- 1971 Series E savings bond value
- 1973 Series E savings bond value
- 1977 Series E savings bond value
- 1979 Series E savings bond value
- 1980 Series E savings bond value
- $25 savings bond worth
- $50 savings bond worth
- $75 savings bond worth
- $200 savings bond worth
- $1,000 savings bond worth
- $5,000 savings bond worth
- $10,000 savings bond worth
1978 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $25 Series E savings bond from 1978 worth today?
A $25 Series E savings bond from 1978 is worth $106.67 to $128.45 in November 2026, final values. It cost $18.75 when issued.
How much is a $100 savings bond from 1978 worth after 30 years?
Every $100 Series E bond issued in 1978 reached final maturity after exactly 30 years and is worth $426.68 (May) to $513.80 (January, February) in November 2026. See what a $100 savings bond is worth after 30 years, any series.
How much is a $500 savings bond from 1978 worth after 30 years?
A $500 Series E bond from 1978 is worth $2,133.40 (May) to $2,569.00 (January, February) in November 2026, final values; it cost $375. See a $500 savings bond of any series.
How much is a $10,000 savings bond from 1978 worth?
A $10,000 Series E bond from 1978 is worth $42,668.00 (May) to $51,380.00 (January, February) in November 2026; it cost $7,500. May 1978 is the lowest $10,000 E bond of any issue month.
Why did a $100 savings bond from 1978 cost $75 and not $50?
A $100 Series E bond from 1978 cost $75 because Series E sold at 75% of face value (31 CFR 316.2(b)). The half-price rule belongs to paper Series EE, sold from 1980.
Does a 1978 savings bond expire or still earn interest?
A 1978 savings bond, now 47 years 11 months to 48 years 10 months old, 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 2008.
Was a 1978 bond worth the same in 2022 as it is today?
Yes: a 1978 bond was worth in 2022 exactly what it is worth in November 2026, because its value has not changed since final maturity in 2008. The files show one figure per 1978 month.
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.