A 1979 Series E savings bond is worth $108.28 to $110.62 per $25 of face value (the amount printed on the bond) in November 2026, by issue month. That is $433.12 to $442.48 for a $100 bond and $43,312.00 to $44,248.00 for a $10,000 bond.
Every 1979 bond stopped earning interest in 2009, after 30 years, so these values are final. They come from Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files. 1979 was also the last year Treasury sold Series E over the counter.
Values for November 2026 (final values)
How Much Is a 1979 Series E Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1979 Series E bond is worth $108.28 (a $25 bond issued January to April) to $44,248.00 (a $10,000 bond issued in November or December) in November 2026. The issue month picks the row and the face value the column. For the rules of the series, see Series E savings bonds, 1941 to 1980.
Table 1: What a 1979 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 1979 | $108.28 | $216.56 | $324.84 | $433.12 | $866.24 | $2,165.60 | $4,331.20 | $43,312.00 | Jan 1, 2009 |
| February 1979 | $108.28 | $216.56 | $324.84 | $433.12 | $866.24 | $2,165.60 | $4,331.20 | $43,312.00 | Feb 1, 2009 |
| March 1979 | $108.28 | $216.56 | $324.84 | $433.12 | $866.24 | $2,165.60 | $4,331.20 | $43,312.00 | Mar 1, 2009 |
| April 1979 | $108.28 | $216.56 | $324.84 | $433.12 | $866.24 | $2,165.60 | $4,331.20 | $43,312.00 | Apr 1, 2009 |
| May 1979 | $109.33 | $218.66 | $327.99 | $437.32 | $874.64 | $2,186.60 | $4,373.20 | $43,732.00 | May 1, 2009 |
| June 1979 | $109.59 | $219.18 | $328.77 | $438.36 | $876.72 | $2,191.80 | $4,383.60 | $43,836.00 | Jun 1, 2009 |
| July 1979 | $109.59 | $219.18 | $328.77 | $438.36 | $876.72 | $2,191.80 | $4,383.60 | $43,836.00 | Jul 1, 2009 |
| August 1979 | $109.59 | $219.18 | $328.77 | $438.36 | $876.72 | $2,191.80 | $4,383.60 | $43,836.00 | Aug 1, 2009 |
| September 1979 | $109.59 | $219.18 | $328.77 | $438.36 | $876.72 | $2,191.80 | $4,383.60 | $43,836.00 | Sep 1, 2009 |
| October 1979 | $109.59 | $219.18 | $328.77 | $438.36 | $876.72 | $2,191.80 | $4,383.60 | $43,836.00 | Oct 1, 2009 |
| November 1979 | $110.62 | $221.24 | $331.86 | $442.48 | $884.96 | $2,212.40 | $4,424.80 | $44,248.00 | Nov 1, 2009 (highest 1979 value) |
| December 1979 | $110.62 | $221.24 | $331.86 | $442.48 | $884.96 | $2,212.40 | $4,424.80 | $44,248.00 | Dec 1, 2009 (highest 1979 value) |
Note: face values issued in 1979 are $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $10,000, in every month (TreasuryDirect calculator windows). Prices are 75% of face (31 CFR 316.2(b)). Final maturity: 31 CFR 316.8(b). Over-the-counter sales of Series E ended December 31, 1979 (31 CFR 316.1).
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 1979 Savings Bond Is Series E, Never Series EE
A savings bond dated 1979 is a Series E bond (or, at $500 and up and bought at face, possibly a Series H bond or a retirement bond), because Series EE began in January 1980 and every bond sold at 75% of face from May 1941 to June 1980 is Series E. An EE chart gives a wrong value, so check the letter and the name on the bond. See how Series EE savings bonds, first issued in January 1980, differ.
Why Every 1979 Bond Stopped Earning Interest in 2009
Every 1979 Series E bond reached final maturity, the date interest stops, on the 1st of its issue month in 2009, after 30 years: January 1979 issues on January 1, 2009, December 1979 issues on December 1, 2009 (31 CFR 316.8(b)). None earns interest today.
- 1979 issues: 30 years, stopped January 1 to December 1, 2009
- Rule group: December 1973 to June 1980 issues, final maturity 2003 to 2010
- Series rule: 40 years for issues to November 1965, 30 years from December 1965
- Last of the series: June 1980 E issues (2010); December 1979 H issues (2009)
The December 1979 Series H bonds, the last H bonds, also stopped in December 2009 (31 CFR 332.8). See when savings bonds mature and stop earning interest, final maturity for every series.
Which 1979 Issue Month Is Worth the Most: November and December, at $110.62 per $25
A November or December 1979 Series E bond is worth $110.62 per $25 ($442.48 per $100) in November 2026, the highest value of any 1979 issue month.
The 12 months rank 150th to 167th of the 175 Series E issue months that earned for 30 years. Among those 175 months, only the 8 issue months May to December 1978 are worth less than a January 1979 bond.
Values rise or hold in 4 groups: $108.28 for January to April, $109.33 for May, $109.59 for June to October and $110.62 for November and December. That is $2.34 more per $25 ($9.36 per $100).
Table 2: The four 1979 value groups and the months next to them, November 2026
Table 2 groups the issue months that share one value, from December 1978 to June 1980.
| Issue months | Months | $25 value | $100 value | Change per $25 | Interest stopped | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1978 | 1 | $108.27 | $433.08 | Dec 1, 2008 | 1978 Series E savings bond value | |
| January to April 1979 | 4 | $108.28 | $433.12 | +$0.01 | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 2009 | this page |
| May 1979 | 1 | $109.33 | $437.32 | +$1.05 | May 1, 2009 | |
| June to October 1979 | 5 | $109.59 | $438.36 | +$0.26 | Jun 1 to Oct 1, 2009 | |
| November and December 1979 | 2 | $110.62 | $442.48 | +$1.03 | Nov 1, Dec 1, 2009 | |
| January to April 1980 | 4 | $110.62 | $442.48 | no change | Jan 1 to Apr 1, 2010 | 1980 Series E savings bond value |
| May and June 1980 | 2 | $111.75 | $447.00 | +$1.13 | May 1, Jun 1, 2010 |
Note: inside 1979 the value rises or holds from one issue month to the next. January to June 1980 E bonds came only through payroll savings and employee plans (31 CFR 316.1).
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 1979 Values Meet December 1978 and January 1980
1979 values join the neighboring years without a drop: a January 1979 bond is worth 1 cent per $25 more than a December 1978 bond ($108.28 against $108.27), and a January 1980 bond equals a December 1979 bond ($110.62).
In the window from December 1978 to June 1980, only May and June 1980 ($111.75) sit higher than November and December 1979. Every 1979 bond is worth less than a January 1978 bond ($128.45 per $25).
What a 1979 Bond Cost and How Much Interest It Earned
A 1979 Series E bond cost 75% of its face value, $18.75 for a $25 bond and $75 for a $100 bond, and its value grew until 2009 (31 CFR 316.2(b)).
A chart showing $18.75 for a $25 E bond shows the price, not the value. Interest, paid only inside the redemption value (31 CFR 315.30), came to $358.12 to $367.48 on a $100 bond, 4.77 to 4.90 times the price.
Which Face Values Were Issued in 1979: Eight, From $25 to $10,000
Treasury's calculator prices 1979 Series E bonds in 8 face values, all valid for every 1979 issue month: $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $10,000. The list gives each issue price and November 2026 value range.
- $25: $18.75; $108.28 to $110.62
- $50: $37.50; $216.56 to $221.24
- $75: $56.25; $324.84 to $331.86
- $100: $75; $433.12 to $442.48
- $200: $150; $866.24 to $884.96
- $500: $375; $2,165.60 to $2,212.40
- $1,000: $750; $4,331.20 to $4,424.80
- $10,000: $7,500; $43,312.00 to $44,248.00
Treasury's calculator and 31 CFR 316.2(b) list no $5,000 Series E, so a $5,000 bond dated 1979 is Series H.
1979, the Last Full Year of Series E: Which Savings Bonds Were Sold
1979 is the last calendar year in which Treasury sold Series E over the counter: the offer ended December 31, 1979, and E bonds came only through payroll savings and employee plans until June 30, 1980 (31 CFR 316.1).
A savings bond bought in 1979 is one of 4 kinds: Series E, Series H, a U.S. Retirement Plan Bond or a U.S. Individual Retirement Bond. The Series H offer also ended December 31, 1979 (44 FR 77158), and exchanges of E bonds into H ended with it (31 CFR part 339, minimum $500).
Table 3: Savings bonds sold in 1979
Table 3 compares the four kinds of savings bonds Treasury sold in 1979.
| Kind | Sold in 1979 | Price | Face values | Interest | Stopped earning | Paid today | Where to cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series E | all year; over-the-counter offer ended December 31, 1979 (payroll to June 30, 1980) | 75% of face | $25 to $10,000 (Table 1) | added to the value | 2009 (30 years) | Table 1 value | bank or FS Form 1522 |
| Series H savings bonds | all year; offer ended December 31, 1979 (44 FR 77158) | face value | $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 | paid every six months | 30 years after issue (2009; December 1979 issues were the last H to stop, December 2009) | face value | FS Form 1522 only (31 CFR 321.7(a)) |
| Retirement Plan Bonds | all year (sold January 1963 to April 30, 1982) | face value | $50, $100, $500, $1,000 | not stated in our sources | by the 60th month after the owner's death (31 CFR 341.1(b)); some may still earn | not in our data | FS Form 1522 by mail |
| Individual Retirement Bonds | all year (sold January 1, 1975 to April 30, 1982) | face value | $50, $75, $100, $500 | not stated in our sources | when the owner reaches 70 1/2, or 5 years after death but no later than that month (31 CFR 346.1(b)); some may still earn | not in our data | FS Form 1522 by mail; 10% penalty may apply before 59 1/2 (TreasuryDirect) |
Not sold in 1979: Series EE and HH (first issued January 1980), Savings Notes (ended October 31, 1970, 31 CFR 342.0) and savings stamps (sales ended June 30, 1970, 31 CFR 316.6(c)).
Sources: 31 CFR 316.1, 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).
What Replaced 1979 Bonds in January 1980: Series EE and HH
Series EE and Series HH replaced Series E and Series H with issues from January 1980, so no EE or HH bond carries a 1979 date. HH bonds were issued at face, and all stopped earning in August 2024.
A bond dated January to June 1980 can be E (payroll) or EE, so the letter decides. See the 1980 Series EE savings bond value for a bond dated 1980 with the letters EE.
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1979 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1979 Series E bond by issue month and face value; within 1979 the month moves the value by at most $2.34 per $25, so face value matters most. Our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files, prices paper Series E bonds.
- Check that the series is 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 marks E bonds "MA". E bonds issued from January 1, 1974 must carry a Social Security number (31 CFR 316.2(c)(1)), but neither it nor the owner's name sets the value.
Cashing a 1979 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1979 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 routes. Its value is the same whenever you cash it.
Banks may cash paper bonds but need not (FS Publication 0022, Rev. October 2022), and may not charge the presenter (31 CFR 321.23(c)). A 1979 H bond goes by mail only.
You can cash by mail with FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026; PDF, TreasuryDirect). Mail it with the bond to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150.
Payment is by direct deposit only, in 3 months or longer if the bond is in your name, 5 months or longer if not (TreasuryDirect, November 11, 2026).
The signature rule follows the total value of the request, not each bond. At $1,000 or less, sign and enclose an ID copy. Above $1,000, a notary or certifying officer (an official who confirms signatures) must certify it.
One 1979 $200 bond ($866.24 to $884.96) stays under the line. A December 1979 $200 plus $100 ($1,327.44) or any 1979 $500 bond needs it.
Tax Year 2009: When Interest on a 1979 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1979 bond that was never cashed became reportable for tax year 2009, the year of its final maturity, unless reported earlier (31 CFR 316.9; IRS Publication 550).
The interest is value minus price, $358.12 on a January 1979 $100 bond, exempt from state and local tax. The payer reports $10 or more in box 3 of Form 1099-INT for savings bonds when the bond is paid. Ask a tax professional about a missed 2009 report; see federal tax on savings bond interest.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1979 Bonds
Five situations change what an owner or heir does with a 1979 bond: lost, inherited, inherited with unreported interest, found, or in Treasury's records only.
Table 4: Lost, found or inherited 1979 bonds
| Situation | Rule for a 1979 bond | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Lost, stolen or destroyed | Claim on FS Form 1048 (Revised March 2026; PDF, TreasuryDirect). Claims 6 years or more after final maturity need the serial number (31 CFR 315.29(c)): since 2015 for 1979 issues (our calculation). Treasury's 2024 Report to Congress (March 11, 2025) said records for 1974 to 1993 were digitized, a phase completed in February 2022. 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 series letter, then the owner name, Social Security number, co-owner and beneficiary before cashing. | found old savings bonds |
| Held in Treasury records, not in hand | Records of 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). No online name search exists. | unclaimed savings bonds |
Other Issue Years and Face Values
The same tables exist for the neighboring issue years and for every face value.
- 1975 Series E savings bond value
- 1978 Series E savings bond value (May to December 1978 worth less)
- 1980 Series E savings bond value (payroll and employee plans only, January to June 1980)
- 1980 Series EE savings bond value (the first Series EE year)
- $25 savings bond worth
- $50 savings bond worth
- $75 savings bond worth
- $100 savings bond worth
- $200 savings bond worth
- $500 savings bond worth
- $1,000 savings bond worth
- $5,000 savings bond worth (Series H in 1979)
- $10,000 savings bond worth
1979 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $25 savings bond from 1979 worth today?
A $25 savings bond from 1979 is worth $108.28 to $110.62 in November 2026, by issue month. It cost $18.75.
How much is a $100 savings bond from 1979 worth after 30 years?
Every $100 Series E bond issued in 1979 reached final maturity after 30 years and is worth $433.12 (January to April) to $442.48 (November and December) in November 2026. For any series, see what a $100 savings bond is worth after 30 years.
How much is a $50 savings bond from 1979 worth?
A $50 Series E bond from 1979 is worth $216.56 to $221.24 in November 2026, by issue month. It cost $37.50.
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1979 worth?
A $1,000 Series E bond from 1979 is worth $4,331.20 to $4,424.80 in November 2026. It cost $750. By mail it needs a certified signature.
Do 47-year-old savings bonds from 1979 expire?
No: a 1979 US savings bond, now 46 years 11 months to 47 years 10 months old, does not expire and can be cashed at any time (31 CFR 315.35(c); EO 13968, 85 FR 83745).
Has the value of a 1979 bond changed since 2009?
No: a 1979 bond's value has not changed since its final maturity in 2009. The files show one figure per month through May 2027, so a 2022 chart gives the same value.
How much are $200 and $500 savings bonds from 1979 worth?
A $200 Series E bond from 1979 is worth $866.24 to $884.96 and a $500 bond $2,165.60 to $2,212.40 in November 2026, both after 30 years. A $500 bond dated 1979 and sold at face is a Series H bond (worth $500) or a retirement bond, so read the bond's title.
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.