# Old saving bonds from when I was a baby **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-saving-bonds-from-when-i-was-a-baby/434470 "2008-01-22T05:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-saving-bonds-from-when-i-was-a-baby/434470/1 "2008-01-22T05:08:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-saving-bonds-from-when-i-was-a-baby/434470/2 "2008-01-22T05:13:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-saving-bonds-from-when-i-was-a-baby/434470/3 "2008-01-22T05:36:46Z")
[QUOTE=feppytweed] 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. [/QUOTE] 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! ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-saving-bonds-from-when-i-was-a-baby/434470/4 "2008-01-22T15:42:57Z")
[QUOTE=Hokkaido Brit] 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! [/QUOTE] 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.