A $50 Series EE or Series E savings bond is worth $27.38 to $468.22 in November 2026, depending on its series and issue month. This redemption value is what Treasury pays when you cash the bond. A $50 Series EE bond is worth $27.38 to $167.40, and a $50 Series E bond $181.18 to $468.22.
These values come from Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files for redemption month November 2026. Your bond's issue month sets its exact value, and bonds still earning interest change value only on the 1st of a month.
Values for November 2026
How Much Is a $50 Series EE Savings Bond Worth Today?
A $50 Series EE savings bond is worth $27.38 to $167.40 in November 2026, by issue month from January 1980 to December 2011.
Paper EE bonds sold for half of face value (the amount printed on the bond), so a $50 EE bond cost $25. The 1980 issues are worth the most: $167.40 in November 2026 for a May to October 1980 issue.
Table 1 gives the lowest and highest $50 value for each issue year. For one exact month, price the bond with our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files.
Table 1: What a $50 Series EE savings bond is worth in November 2026, by issue year (lowest to highest issue month)
| Issue year | Value of a $50 bond, November 2026 | Earning interest? | Interest stops (final maturity) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $153.44 to $167.40 | No | Jan 2010 to Dec 2010 | highest $50 EE values (May to October 1980) |
| 1981 | $146.90 to $153.44 | No | Jan 2011 to Dec 2011 | |
| 1982 | $140.16 to $146.90 | No | Jan 2012 to Dec 2012 | |
| 1983 | $115.32 to $140.16 | No | Jan 2013 to Dec 2013 | |
| 1984 | $115.32 (every month) | No | Jan 2014 to Dec 2014 | |
| 1985 | $115.32 (every month) | No | Jan 2015 to Dec 2015 | |
| 1986 | $103.68 to $115.32 | No | Jan 2016 to Dec 2016 | |
| 1987 | $103.68 (every month) | No | Jan 2017 to Dec 2017 | |
| 1988 | $103.68 (every month) | No | Jan 2018 to Dec 2018 | |
| 1989 | $103.68 (every month) | No | Jan 2019 to Dec 2019 | |
| 1990 | $103.68 (every month) | No | Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 | |
| 1991 | $103.68 (every month) | No | Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 | |
| 1992 | $103.68 (every month) | No | Jan 2022 to Dec 2022 | |
| 1993 | $82.06 to $103.68 | No | Jan 2023 to Dec 2023 | |
| 1994 | $82.06 (every month) | No | Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 | |
| 1995 | $61.78 to $82.06 | No | Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 | rules changed May 1995 |
| 1996 | $62.62 to $64.32 | December issue only (note 1) | Jan 2026 to Dec 2026 | |
| 1997 | $63.30 to $64.92 | Yes | Jan 2027 to Dec 2027 | |
| 1998 | $63.08 to $64.14 | Yes | Jan 2028 to Dec 2028 | |
| 1999 | $62.16 to $63.12 | Yes | Jan 2029 to Dec 2029 | |
| 2000 | $61.52 to $62.38 | Yes | Jan 2030 to Dec 2030 | |
| 2001 | $60.42 to $61.46 | Yes | Jan 2031 to Dec 2031 | $50 Patriot Bond value from December 2001 |
| 2002 | $59.06 to $60.34 | Yes | Jan 2032 to Dec 2032 | |
| 2003 | $55.56 to $58.90 | Yes | Jan 2033 to Dec 2033 | |
| 2004 | $53.50 to $55.40 | Yes | Jan 2034 to Dec 2034 | |
| 2005 | $51.48 to $53.36 | Yes | Jan 2035 to Dec 2035 | |
| 2006 | $50.90 to $53.00 | Yes | Jan 2036 to Dec 2036 | |
| 2007 | $43.92 to $50.74 | Yes | Jan 2037 to Dec 2037 | May to December issues below $50 |
| 2008 | $31.50 to $43.82 | Yes | Jan 2038 to Dec 2038 | below $50 until 2028 |
| 2009 | $28.24 to $31.48 | Yes | Jan 2039 to Dec 2039 | below $50 until 2029 |
| 2010 | $27.54 to $31.48 | Yes | Jan 2040 to Dec 2040 | below $50 until 2030 |
| 2011 | $27.38 to $29.62 | Yes | Jan 2041 to Dec 2041 | below $50 until 2031; lowest: December 2011, $27.38 |
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 a $50 bond are the file's $25-unit value times 2. Rules for each issue period: Series EE savings bonds.
Note 1: the December 1996 issue earns until December 1, 2026, then stops.
Why a $50 EE Bond From 2007 to 2011 Is Worth Less Than $50
A $50 EE bond from May 2007 to December 2011 is worth less than $50 because paper EE bonds sold for half of face and reach face only at original maturity, 20 years after issue. These 56 issue months are worth $27.38 to $48.22 in November 2026.
Treasury guarantees at least face value at original maturity (31 CFR 351.35(f)(1)), so each value steps up to $50.00 in the month the bond turns 20. The May 2007 bond is worth $48.22 in November 2026 and is scheduled at $50.00 in May 2027.
Table 2: $50 EE bonds worth less than $50 in November 2026, and when each reaches $50
| Issue months | Value, November 2026 | Reaches $50 |
|---|---|---|
| May to December 2007 | $43.92 to $48.22 | May to December 2027 |
| January to December 2008 | $31.50 to $43.82 | January to December 2028 |
| January to December 2009 | $28.24 to $31.48 | January to December 2029 |
| January to December 2010 | $27.54 to $31.48 | January to December 2030 |
| January to December 2011 | $27.38 to $29.62 | January to December 2031 |
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 a $50 bond are the file's $25-unit value times 2.
Which $50 EE Bonds Have Stopped Earning Interest
Every $50 EE bond issued January 1980 through November 1996 has stopped earning interest and keeps its final value. An EE bond reaches final maturity 30 years after issue, and interest stops on that date (31 CFR 351.5). The three groups below show where bonds from 1980 to April 1997 stand in November 2026.
- Bonds issued January 1980 to November 1996: stopped earning; values no longer change.
- Bonds issued December 1996: earning until December 1, 2026, then fixed at $64.32.
- Bonds issued January to April 1997: earning until January to April 2027, each in its own month.
Later issues earn until their 30-year date in Table 1. The rules on final maturity of savings bonds explain when savings bonds of every series mature and stop earning interest.
Why 1995 $50 EE Bonds Have Two Different Values
Two 1995 $50 EE bonds differ by $20.28 because Treasury changed the EE terms for bonds issued from May 1995. In November 2026, a January to April 1995 bond is worth $82.06, a May to October 1995 bond $61.78, and a November or December 1995 bond $62.62.
The new terms set a 17-year original maturity and, through April 1997 issues, value changes every 6 months. November and December 1995 bonds follow the same terms over a later 30-year span, so their final value is slightly higher.
$50 Patriot Bonds (2001 to 2011)
A $50 Patriot Bond is a paper Series EE bond with a "Patriot Bond" inscription, issued December 2001 to December 2011. It has the same terms and value as any $50 EE bond of its issue month. The 121 issue months from December 2001 to December 2011 are worth $27.38 to $60.50 in November 2026.
How Much Is a $50 Series E Savings Bond Worth?
A $50 Series E savings bond is worth $181.18 to $468.22 in November 2026, and that value no longer changes. A $50 E bond cost $37.50 (75% of face). Series E was issued May 1941 to June 1980, and the last issues stopped earning in June 2010.
The rules for Series E savings bonds give final maturity by issue period. No cash deadline applies: Treasury pays an E bond "at any time after two months from issue date" (31 CFR 315.35(c)).
Table 3 gives the lowest and highest $50 value per issue year.
Table 3: What a $50 Series E savings bond is worth in November 2026, by issue year (values are final and no longer change)
| Issue year | Issue months | Value of a $50 bond, November 2026 | Stopped earning (final maturity) | Life (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | May to Dec | $181.18 to $188.70 | May to Dec 1981 | 40 |
| 1942 | Jan to Dec | $188.70 to $199.90 | Jan to Dec 1982 | 40 |
| 1943 | Jan to Dec | $199.90 to $210.18 | Jan to Dec 1983 | 40 |
| 1944 | Jan to Dec | $210.18 to $220.94 | Jan to Dec 1984 | 40 |
| 1945 | Jan to Dec | $220.94 to $234.56 | Jan to Dec 1985 | 40 |
| 1946 | Jan to Dec | $234.56 to $246.76 | Jan to Dec 1986 | 40 |
| 1947 | Jan to Dec | $246.76 to $262.82 | Jan to Dec 1987 | 40 |
| 1948 | Jan to Dec | $262.18 to $273.38 | Jan to Dec 1988 | 40 |
| 1949 | Jan to Dec | $273.38 to $294.12 | Jan to Dec 1989 | 40 |
| 1950 | Jan to Dec | $294.12 to $308.52 | Jan to Dec 1990 | 40 |
| 1951 | Jan to Dec | $325.20 to $341.30 | Jan to Dec 1991 | 40 |
| 1952 | Jan to Dec | $341.32 to $356.28 | Jan to Dec 1992 | 40 |
| 1953 | Jan to Dec | $326.76 to $356.28 | Jan to Dec 1993 | 40 |
| 1954 | Jan to Dec | $337.72 to $355.06 | Jan to Dec 1994 | 40 |
| 1955 | Jan to Dec | $355.06 to $373.58 | Jan to Dec 1995 | 40 |
| 1956 | Jan to Dec | $373.58 to $399.12 | Jan to Dec 1996 | 40 |
| 1957 | Jan to Dec | $361.94 to $410.16 | Jan to Dec 1997 | 40 |
| 1958 | Jan to Dec | $366.24 to $378.68 | Jan to Dec 1998 | 40 |
| 1959 | Jan to Dec | $372.02 to $383.06 | Jan to Dec 1999 | 40 |
| 1960 | Jan to Dec | $377.00 to $394.36 | Jan to Dec 2000 | 40 |
| 1961 | Jan to Dec | $394.36 to $413.50 | Jan to Dec 2001 | 40 |
| 1962 | Jan to Dec | $413.50 to $430.44 | Jan to Dec 2002 | 40 |
| 1963 | Jan to Dec | $430.44 to $449.10 | Jan to Dec 2003 | 40 |
| 1964 | Jan to Dec | $449.10 to $468.22 | Jan to Dec 2004 | 40 |
| 1965 | Jan to Dec | $256.24 to $468.22 | Jan to Nov 2005; Dec 1995 | 40 (Jan to Nov), 30 (Dec) |
| 1966 | Jan to Dec | $243.88 to $256.26 | Jan to Dec 1996 | 30 |
| 1967 | Jan to Dec | $251.72 to $262.56 | Jan to Dec 1997 | 30 |
| 1968 | Jan to Dec | $262.56 to $274.56 | Jan to Dec 1998 | 30 |
| 1969 | Jan to Dec | $266.84 to $277.20 | Jan to Dec 1999 | 30 |
| 1970 | Jan to Dec | $274.00 to $280.02 | Jan to Dec 2000 | 30 |
| 1971 | Jan to Dec | $252.12 to $253.90 | Jan to Dec 2001 | 30 |
| 1972 | Jan to Dec | $251.76 to $256.66 | Jan to Dec 2002 | 30 |
| 1973 | Jan to Dec | $256.96 to $263.52 | Jan to Dec 2003 | 30 |
| 1974 | Jan to Dec | $256.96 to $263.18 | Jan to Dec 2004 | 30 |
| 1975 | Jan to Dec | $263.14 to $269.50 | Jan to Dec 2005 | 30 |
| 1976 | Jan to Dec | $269.52 to $276.08 | Jan to Dec 2006 | 30 |
| 1977 | Jan to Dec | $256.18 to $279.40 | Jan to Dec 2007 | 30 |
| 1978 | Jan to Dec | $213.34 to $256.90 | Jan to Dec 2008 | 30 |
| 1979 | Jan to Dec | $216.56 to $221.24 | Jan to Dec 2009 | 30 |
| 1980 | Jan to Jun | $221.24 to $223.50 | Jan to Jun 2010 | 30 |
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 a $50 bond are the file's $25-unit value times 2.
The Most Valuable $50 E Bonds and the 1965 Drop
The most valuable $50 E bonds are the December 1964 and January 1965 issues, at $468.22 each in November 2026. A November 1965 $50 E bond is worth $368.06, a December 1965 bond only $256.24.
The cause is the bond's life: 40 years for issues through November 1965, 30 years for later issues (31 CFR 316.8(b)).
$50 War Bonds From 1941 to 1945
A $50 Series E bond issued May 1941 to December 1945, when Series E was sold as a Defense or War Savings Bond, is worth $181.18 to $234.56 in November 2026. Treasury pays no collector premium for a war bond; war bonds worth now covers every face value.
Which Savings Bond Series Came in a $50 Denomination?
Seven kinds of savings bonds came in $50: Series E, Series EE, paper Series I, Savings Notes, Series A to D, Series F and the retirement bonds.
Series G, H, HH, J and K had no $50 bond. Prices ran from half of face ($25) for Series EE to the full $50 for paper I bonds and retirement bonds.
The table lists every savings bond series Treasury issued with a $50 face value.
Table 4: Which series came in $50, what it cost and what it is worth
| Series | Issue dates | Price of a $50 bond | Worth in November 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series EE (paper, including Patriot Bonds) | Jan 1980 to Dec 2011 | $25 (half of face) | $27.38 to $167.40 (Table 1) | 31 CFR 351.40; Savings Bonds Value Files |
| Series E (including war bonds) | May 1941 to Jun 1980 | $37.50 (75% of face) | $181.18 to $468.22 (Table 3) | 31 CFR 316.2(b); Savings Bonds Value Files |
| Series I savings bonds (paper) | Sep 1998 to Dec 2011 (note 2) | $50 (face) | by issue month; November 2001 issue: $156.98 | 31 CFR 359.25; TreasuryDirect Savings Bond Calculator |
| Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) | May 1967 to Oct 1970 | $40.50 (81% of face) | not shown on this page; use Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator | 31 CFR 342.2(c) |
| Series A, B, C and D savings bonds | Mar 1935 to Apr 1941 | 75% of face | $50 (paid at face value) | 31 CFR 315.35(b); TreasuryDirect |
| Series F savings bonds | 1941 to Apr 1952 | 74% of face | $50 (paid at face value) | TreasuryDirect historical bonds |
| Retirement plan bonds; Individual Retirement Bonds | Jan 1963 to Apr 1982; Jan 1975 to Apr 1982 | $50 (face) | not shown on this page | 31 CFR 341, 346; TreasuryDirect |
Note 2: sold over the counter and through payroll. The denominations of tax-refund paper I bonds (2010 to 2024) are not established in a primary source. Other issue months of a $50 I bond are priced in Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator (ours covers paper EE and E bonds). All series: types of US savings bonds.
How to Find the Exact Value of Your $50 Savings Bond
Read the series and issue month on the bond, then look up that month in Table 1, Table 3 or our calculator; the serial number is not needed. The five steps below find the value of one $50 paper bond.
- Read the series letter on the paper savings bond: E, EE or I.
- Read the issue month and year. On a Series E bond it sits in the upper right; the validation date in the lower right does not set the value.
- Find the issue year in Table 1 (Series EE) or Table 3 (Series E).
- Enter the series, $50 and the issue month in our calculator for the exact value.
- Check the month the value applies to; this page shows November 2026.
The issue date is the first day of the month the bond was paid for; how to read a paper savings bond depends on its series.
Treasury's value files price a $25 unit of face, so a $50 bond is worth the rounded unit value times 2 (31 CFR 351.16). Treasury's own calculator is free for paper EE, I and E bonds and Savings Notes.
What Happens to a $50 Bond's Value in the Coming Months
A $50 EE bond that still earns interest rises or holds on the 1st of each month; stopped EE bonds and all Series E bonds keep their value.
In Table 5, the May 2007 bond reaches $50.00 in May 2027; the December 1996 bond makes its last step on December 1, 2026. EE rates are announced May 1 and November 1; the current files run to May 2027.
Table 5: Six $50 EE bonds, November 2026 to May 2027
| Issue month | Nov 2026 | Dec 2026 | Jan 2027 | Feb 2027 | Mar 2027 | Apr 2027 | May 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1996 | $63.30 | $64.32 | $64.32 | $64.32 | $64.32 | $64.32 | $64.32 |
| January 1997 | $63.30 | $63.30 | $64.32 | $64.32 | $64.32 | $64.32 | $64.32 |
| January 2003 | $58.90 | $59.06 | $59.22 | $59.42 | $59.62 | $59.82 | $60.02 |
| June 2004 | $54.54 | $54.70 | $54.88 | $55.06 | $55.24 | $55.44 | $55.62 |
| May 2007 | $48.22 | $48.36 | $48.50 | $48.62 | $48.76 | $48.90 | $50.00 |
| December 2011 | $27.38 | $27.40 | $27.42 | $27.42 | $27.44 | $27.46 | $27.46 |
Future months are Treasury's scheduled values in the current value files; rates for periods starting after April 2027 are not yet announced. 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 a $50 bond are the file's $25-unit value times 2.
Cashing a $50 Savings Bond and the Tax on Its Interest
You cash a $50 bond at a bank that redeems savings bonds or by mail with FS Form 1522; its interest is taxed federally, not by states. The page on how to cash savings bonds compares the cashing routes.
Banks may cash paper savings bonds but are not required to (FS Publication 0022, revised October 2022).
FS Form 1522 (revised April 2026; the form, PDF, TreasuryDirect) needs a notary or a certifying officer (for example, a bank officer who certifies signatures) only above $1,000 per request.
For one $50 bond, you sign, enclose a copy of a driver's license, passport, state ID or military ID, and mail it to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150.
Interest is the redemption value minus the purchase price ($25 for a $50 EE bond). It is exempt from state and local income tax (31 U.S.C. 3124(a)) and federally taxed for the year of cashing or final maturity, whichever comes first, unless reported yearly (26 U.S.C. 454(a)).
Form 1099-INT is issued for $10 or more of interest. See are savings bonds taxable for federal tax on savings bond interest; a tax professional advises on individual returns.
When to Cash and Where
A stopped $50 bond gains nothing by waiting, and you can cash it at a bank or by mail.
Savings bonds never expire and have no cash deadline (Executive Order 13968, signed December 18, 2020; 85 FR 83745, December 23, 2020). Timing rules, such as the 12-month minimum holding period, decide when to cash savings bonds.
Bank policies differ by bank, so compare banks that cash savings bonds. Without a bank, use FS Form 1522 to cash a paper bond by mail.
Values for Other Face Values
Value tables for four other face values and the page on rates are listed below.
- How much a $25 savings bond is worth: Series E values only
- How much a $75 savings bond is worth
- How much a $100 savings bond is worth
- How much a $200 savings bond is worth
- Savings bond interest rates by issue date: the rate each issue month earns
Our calculator prices every other face value.
$50 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $50 savings bond worth after 30 years?
A $50 EE bond that has reached 30 years is worth $61.78 to $167.40 in November 2026, its final value. The lowest, $61.78, belongs to May to October 1995 issues. The November 1996 issue reached 30 years on November 1, 2026, at $64.32.
How much is a $50 savings bond worth after 20 years?
A $50 EE bond issued June 2003 or later is worth at least $50 after 20 years, under Treasury's original-maturity guarantee. The 42 issue months from June 2003 to November 2006 have passed 20 years and are worth $50.94 to $56.50 in November 2026. Earlier issues reached $50 sooner, at a shorter original maturity (Table 1).
How much is a $50 savings bond from 1994 worth?
A 1994 $50 EE bond is worth $82.06 in November 2026 in every issue month. It stopped earning interest in 2024, when every 1994 Series EE savings bond reached 30 years, so the value no longer changes.
How much is a 50 dollar savings bond from 2005 worth today?
A 2005 $50 EE bond is worth $51.48 to $53.36 in November 2026, by issue month. It keeps earning interest until 2035.
How long does a $50 savings bond take to mature?
A $50 EE bond reaches original maturity after 8 to 20 years and final maturity after 30 years, depending on its issue date. A $50 E bond stopped earning after 40 or 30 years. The original maturity and final maturity dates differ by series.
What happens to savings bonds when the owner dies?
The surviving "OR" co-owner (a person named on the bond with "OR") or the POD (payable-on-death) beneficiary becomes the sole owner; without either, the bond belongs to the owner's estate. The Series EE rule is 31 CFR 353.70(b)(1) and (c)(1). Heirs cash or reissue inherited bonds under the rules on savings bonds after death.
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.