Series E History

• The Series E bond was first issued in 1941. It was widely promoted as a patriotic way to save money and help the U.S. offset the cost of participating in World War II. This series was discontinued in June 1980.
  
  

Series H History

• Series H bonds debuted in 1957 and were available until December 1979. Investors could purchase these bonds or trade Series E bonds for them.
  
  

Purchase Price and Interest

• The purchase price of the Series E bond was 75 percent of its face value. The interest was the difference between the purchase price and the redemption value. The face values of Series E bonds ranged from $25 to $10,000. Series H bonds, however, were purchased for their full face value. The minimum face value was $500. Like the Series E, the maximum bond amount was $10,000. Interest on Series H bonds was paid semiannually.
  
  

Taxation

• Investors claimed Series E bond interest at the time of redemption or maturity. They had no tax liability for the interest until that time, although they could claim annual interest if they chose. The semiannual interest paid on Series H bonds was considered annual income and had to be reported to the IRS each year.
  
  

Discontinuation

• Series E bonds have been replaced by the Series EE bonds. The Series HH bonds were originally offered in January 1980 and replaced Series H. The HH bonds were discontinued in September 2004. You may no longer reinvest in these bonds or exchange Series E or EE bonds for them.