I have some old savings bonds that were gifted to me when I was a baby. Needless to say, they have sentimental value, but they are no longer gathering interest so I think it’s time to roll them over into new bonds.
However, they have that certain sentimental value to me. If I cash them in, can I ask them to void them out so that I am able to keep them (and potentially frame them), or will they tell me that I am SOL and they must be kept by the bank?
The amount involved is fairly trivial, so if I don’t cash them in it won’t break my heart too much, but hey, money is money.
You are most likely SOL. The Savings Bonds will for all practical purposes act like a post-dated check from the government. When you redeem them, they are stamped and processed like other monetary instruments. Where they go from there, I have no clue.
Could you make a colour copy for your own nostalgic purposes before cashing them in? The person who gave them to you would I am sure have meant you to get the benefit of the money one day, and would like you to cash them. Maybe this would be a way of having your cake (bond!) and eating (spending!) it too!
I can’t swear as to the legality of this, as it’s never come up with me before. If I were to venture a guess though, I’d say it would be alright because a) It would obviously be a copy; different paper textures, front side only, etc. and b) it isn’t intended to defraud; it’s just a (likely framed) facsimile for posterity.