Minute Man savings stamp in strong demand for almost 20 years

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

The United States Post Office Department issued savings stamps from 1954 to 1961.

Savings stamps were redeemable as U.S. savings bonds. They allowed patrons who could not avoid the full price of a savings bond at once to pay for it incrementally through the savings stamps.

Seven Scott-listed major-number savings stamps (Scott S1-S7) were issued. All used the Minute Man statue as a design element. The bronze Minute Man statue by Daniel Chester French stands in the National Historical Park in Concord, Mass. It was unveiled in 1875 for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Concord.

The statue symbolizes the Colonial militiamen who left their plows and farms at a minute’s notice to defend the nascent nation, as well as the citizen soldiers who still defend it today.

The $5 sepia Minute Man Statue savings stamp (Scott S5) was issued Nov. 30, 1956.

We previously tipped this stamp in the Stamp Market Tips columns in the May 14, 2007; Sept. 4, 2017; and Jan. 17, 2022, issue of Linn’s.

The constant demand for this stamp during the 17-year period we have tracked it reflects the fact that there is much demand and not enough supply.

The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values the $5 Minute Man savings stamp at $150 in mint, never-hinged condition.

This stamp is currently selling in very fine grade at full Scott catalog value or a bit more. If you find it in very fine grade and mint, never-hinged condition at Scott catalog value or less, it is a real bargain.

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