# Can I redeem and old, lost US Savings Bond? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316 "2008-11-24T20:43:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/1 "2008-11-24T20:43:56Z")
When my son was born, about 22 years ago, a friend gave him a savings bond. I think it was for $300. My SSN was used, since the son didn’t have one yet. Long story short, in the course of 2 moves since then we have misplaced the bond and have no idea where it is. Is there any way that this can be redeemed without having the actual bond? Also, since it has been over 20 years since the purchase, will it have accumulated interest above the face value, or is that the maximum it will ever be worth? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/2 "2008-11-24T21:01:12Z")
I can’t help with the first question, but yes, savings bonds accrue interest past their face value, but only up to a point, and then they stop earning interest entirely. My grandfather bought me some $50 bonds (for $18 each, I think?) and some $100 bonds (for $50, maybe?) in the late 70’s/early '80’s. I’m just now cashing them in, and the $50’s get me around $110 and the $100’s around $160 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/3 "2008-11-24T21:25:06Z")
I don’t know how you could collect on something you don’t have. You present the savings bond and they pay to the bearer. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/4 "2008-11-24T21:29:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*What should I do if my paper savings bond has been lost, stolen, or destroyed? \*\* > > Simply fill out the form for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed U.S. Savings Bonds (Form PD F 1048) and mail it to the address provided on the form. > > If you don’t have a listing of your savings bonds’ issue dates and serial numbers, write to Savings Bonds, Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012. Provide as much information on the bond as possible and request a search of our records. We will replace your savings bonds if we can establish that a person entitled to cash the bonds hasn’t done so. > > We can convert paper certificates to electronic format in a TreasuryDirect account if you have received an invitation from us. You may want to consider this option if you’re concerned about bonds being lost or destroyed. For more information on converting paper bonds, visit the SmartExchangeSM program. [http://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/research/indepth/ebonds/res\_e\_bonds\_eefaq.htm#lost](http://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/research/indepth/ebonds/res_e_bonds_eefaq.htm#lost) Worth a shot, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/5 "2008-11-24T21:35:24Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > I don’t know how you could collect on something you don’t have. You present the savings bond and they pay to the bearer. But isn’t there a record of them being purchased under a SSN somewhere? That record would also indicate that it hasn’t been redeemed. Oops, Mack jumped in there with the info I assumed would be available. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/6 "2008-11-24T21:43:03Z")
Thanks, **Mack** , for the link. I’ll try that form and see if they can redeem it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/7 "2008-11-25T04:03:03Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > I don’t know how you could collect on something you don’t have. You present the savings bond and they pay to the bearer. OTOH if this is wrong, I want to redeem a twenty that I accidentally threw in the fireplace with the Christmas wrapping, about the year 1976. $20 went a lot further back then; I kicked myself for a couple of days over that one. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/8 "2008-11-25T04:16:39Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > OTOH if this is wrong, I want to redeem a twenty that I accidentally threw in the fireplace with the Christmas wrapping, about the year 1976. $20 went a lot further back then; I kicked myself for a couple of days over that one. But a $20 bill doesn’t have a record in the Department of the Treasury that says we, the United States government, owe the citizen with SSN xxx-xx-xxxx $50, plus interest. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/9 "2008-11-25T12:47:51Z")
I think he meant a $20 savings bond, not a Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-redeem-and-old-lost-us-savings-bond/474316/10 "2008-11-25T13:01:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I think he meant a $20 savings bond, not a Jackson. :smack: