War savings stamps of the United States War savings stamps were issued by the United States Treasury Department to help fund participation in World War I and World War II . Although these stamps were distinct from the postal savings stamp s issued by the United States Post Office Department , the Post Office nevertheless played a major role in promoting and distributing war savings stamps . In contrast to Liberty Bonds , which were purchased primarily by financial institutions , war savings stamps were principally aimed at common citizens . During World War I , 25 - cent Thrift stamps were offered to allow individuals to accumulate enough over time to purchase the standard 5 - dollar War Savings Certificate stamp . When the Treasury began issuing war savings stamps during World War II , the lowest denomination was a 10 - cent stamp , enabling ordinary citizens to purchase them . In many cases , collections of war savings stamps could be redeemed for Treasury Certificates or War Bond s . World War I Era . The United States Treasury Department issued its first war savings stamps in late 1917 in order to help pay for the costs incurred through involvement in World War I . The estimated cost of World War I for the United States was approximately $ 32 billion , and by the end of the war , the United States government had issued a total of $ 26 . 4 billion in debt . Although national campaigns had aimed to sell $ 2 billion in war savings stamps , they ultimately accounted for about $ 0 . 93 billion , or 3 . 5 percent , of the total debt issued . Despite the low proportion of total debt purchased as war savings stamps , they represented real additional savings whereas other issues were at least partly monetized already . In addition , government and society leaders utilized the war savings stamps program as a vehicle to teach the importance of saving and thrift . War Savings Certificate Stamps . The primary , interest - earning stamp issued was the War Savings Certificate stamp , which was worth 5 dollars at maturity on January 1 , 1923 . These stamps needed to be affixed to an engraved folder called the War Savings Certificate , which carried the name of the purchaser , and could only be redeemed by that individual . Between December 3 , 1917 and January 31 , 1918 , each stamp could be purchased at the price of $ 4 . 12 . If purchased on January 2 , 1918 , the return on the investment would be 4 percent , compounded quarterly . The price of the stamp increased by one cent for each month after January 1918 until sales ended in December 1918 . Owners of these stamps could also redeem them for cash prior to the maturity date and receive the amount paid plus one cent for every month after the original purchase . The Treasury issued a new series of War Savings Certificate stamps in subsequent years , with the same interest rate and time to maturity . The final series of War Savings Certificate stamps were issued on December 21 , 1920 , maturing on January 1 , 1926 . Thrift Stamps . Along with the War Savings Certificate stamps , the Treasury also issued a set of 25 - cent Thrift stamps , which bore no interest . The purpose of the Thrift stamps was to allow individuals without the means to purchase a War Savings Certificate stamp outright to gradually accumulate enough Thrift stamps to exchange for one later . The Treasury supplied Thrift cards , to which a total of sixteen Thrift stamps could be affixed . A full Thrift card was worth four dollars and could be combined with the appropriate number of cents to purchase a War Savings Certificate stamp . Promotional Efforts . Promotion of war savings stamps pervaded American culture during World War I . The Treasury Department established the War Savings Organization in order to coordinate marketing efforts throughout the nation . A wide variety of posters were produced to promote war savings stamps , often invoking a sense of patriotic duty to purchase them to support war efforts . President Woodrow Wilson called upon “ every man , woman and child ” to save for the war and designated June 28 , 1918 as National War Savings Day . Governors , mayors , and other political leaders led by example by purchasing war savings stamps and encouraged their constituents to do the same . The Four Minute Men organization , authorized by President Wilson , also developed a series of speech outlines related to war savings stamps for its volunteers to deliver . Support for war savings stamps also came from a variety of non - government sources . Advertisements were often donated by local newspapers in order to inform people of how war savings stamps worked and to encourage their purchase . War savings societies formed within communities across the country to promote the value of thrift and to collect funds for war savings stamps . Children were also recruited to the war saving efforts primarily through their schools . Children received school kits , which included penny and nickel savings booklets so that children could save up for a 25 - cent Thrift stamp a few cents at a time . World War II Era . The United States Treasury Department began to issue a series of war savings stamps in late 1942 . Unlike the War Savings Certificate stamps from World War I , these war savings stamps earned no interest . Instead , their sole purpose was to facilitate saving toward the purchase of Series E war bonds . Minuteman Stamps . The war savings stamps introduced during World War II were released in five different denominations – 10 cents , 25 cents , 50 cents , one dollar , and five dollars , all featuring a Minuteman statue . These stamps were purchased at face value and earned no interest . Individuals accumulated their war savings stamps in various collection booklets provided with the purchase of a stamp . Filled collection booklets could later be used to purchase Series E war bonds . For example , a full 25 - cent booklet contained 75 stamps and was worth $ 18 . 75 , which was the initial price of a $ 25 war bond . Thus , a full 25 - cent booklet would be exchanged for a $ 25 war bond with a time to maturity of ten years . Promotional Efforts . The promotion of war savings stamps during World War II was closely tied with the promotion of the Series E war bonds . In order to mobilize the home front to support the war efforts ideologically and financially , the Treasury Department ’ s primary message revolved around patriotism . With support from the advertising industry , which donated $ 250 million worth of advertising during the first three years of the campaign , war bonds and stamps permeated everyday life . Advertisements appeared as posters on trolley cars , songs on the radio , and movies featuring Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope . Utilizing the concept of market segmentation , numerous campaigns were developed to target different populations such as women , immigrants , and children . The Treasury developed classroom material that highlighted the positive impact of war savings stamps while enforcing math skills . Similar schemes . During World War II , the Mennonite Central Committee offered red Civilian Public Service stamps and blue War Sufferers ' Relief stamps for ten cents each to help fund peaceful programs and offer an alternative for children from families who could not conscientiously fund the Red Cross . The Brethren in Christ had a similar program for their members .